Two Rockets Target US Base in Eastern Syria

 US soldiers take part in military drills alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces, east of al-Hasakah on September 7, 2022. (EPA)
US soldiers take part in military drills alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces, east of al-Hasakah on September 7, 2022. (EPA)
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Two Rockets Target US Base in Eastern Syria

 US soldiers take part in military drills alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces, east of al-Hasakah on September 7, 2022. (EPA)
US soldiers take part in military drills alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces, east of al-Hasakah on September 7, 2022. (EPA)

Two rockets targeted international coalition forces at the US patrol base in northeastern Syria, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement late Friday.

The attack at its base in al-Shaddadi was the third of its kind in a week but resulted in no injuries or damage to the base or coalition property.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) visited the rocket origin site and found a third unfired rocket, the statement added.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, in an earlier report about the Friday night rocket attack said “the area has been witnessing attacks by ISIS cells.” It later said that Iran-backed militias “are responsible for Friday’s rocket fire.”

Such groups have significant influence in the Syria-Iraq border region, the war monitor noted, according to AFP.

“Attacks of this kind place coalition forces and the civilian populace at risk and undermine the hard-earned stability and security of Syria and the region,” said Col. Joe Buccino, CENTCOM spokesman.

On Nov17, rockets targeted the coalition's Green Village base, which is in Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar, near the Iraqi border, CENTCOM said at the time. There were no injuries.



Syria Unable to Import Wheat or Fuel Due to US Sanctions, Trade Minister Says

Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
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Syria Unable to Import Wheat or Fuel Due to US Sanctions, Trade Minister Says

Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)
Syrian Trade Minister Maher Khalil al-Hasan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Damascus, Syria, January 6 2025. (Reuters)

Syria is unable to make deals to import fuel, wheat or other key goods due to strict US sanctions and despite many countries wanting to do so, Syria's new trade minister said.

In an interview with Reuters at his office in Damascus, Maher Khalil al-Hasan said Syria's new ruling administration had managed to scrape together enough wheat and fuel for a few months but the country faces a "catastrophe" if sanctions are not frozen or lifted soon.

Hasan is a member of the new caretaker government set up by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group after it launched a lightning offensive that toppled autocratic President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 after 13 years of civil war.

The sanctions were imposed during Assad's rule, targeting his government and also state institutions such as the central bank.

Russia and Iran, both major backers of the Assad government, previously provided most of Syria's wheat and oil products but both stopped doing so after the opposition factions triumphed and Assad fled to Moscow.

The US is set to announce an easing of restrictions on providing humanitarian aid and other basic services such as electricity to Syria while maintaining its strict sanctions regime, people briefed on the matter told Reuters on Monday.

The exact impact of the expected measures remains to be seen.

The decision by the outgoing Biden administration aims to send a signal of goodwill to Syria's people and its new rulers, and pave the way for improving basic services and living conditions in the war-ravaged country.

Washington wants to see Damascus embark on an inclusive political transition and to cooperate on counterterrorism and other matters.

Hasan told Reuters he was aware of reports that some sanctions may soon be eased or frozen.