Jan 18 (Reuters) – Syrian troops battled U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces to seize the country’s largest Omar oil field and the Conoco gas field in eastern Deir ez-Zor province, as Arab tribal coalition forces advanced toward oil-rich areas on the Iraqi border, officials and security sources said on Sunday.
The takeover of the oil fields east of the Euphrates River – a major source of income for the Kurdish-led forces – is a major blow to the group.
Syrian government officials say the oil wealth that militias control to maintain their autonomous regions is depriving the country of much-needed resources.
Syrian President Ahmed Sala said last week that it was unacceptable for militias to control a quarter of the country and its main oil and commodities resources.
Despite U.S. support, Syrian forces have advanced into predominantly Arab areas of northeastern Syria controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Called to halt its advance.
A government source said the Kurdish-led forces were defeated after an offensive led by Arab tribal fighters, giving the government and its tribal allies access to more than 150 kilometers of territory on the east bank of the Euphrates River, stretching from Baghouz near the Iraqi border to major towns including Shuhail and Busailah.
Syrian government officials said the developments effectively brought much of Deir ez-Zor province – the country’s main oil and wheat-producing region along the Euphrates River – under their control.
Later on Saturday, the army also took control of the northern city of Tabqa and its adjacent dam, as well as the main Freedom Dam (formerly known as the Renaissance Dam) west of Raqqa.
Syrian Kurdish authorities have yet to acknowledge the loss of the strategic sites and say fighting continues near the dam area, accusing Damascus of violating an agreement to withdraw troops from areas east of Aleppo to expand its offensive.
Syrian Kurdish officials say government-aligned factions are still attacking their forces despite efforts to reach a peaceful outcome. The civil administration that governs the region says Damascus intends to sow divisions between Arabs and Kurds.
“We are at a critical juncture. We can either resist or live with dignity and face every kind of injustice,” their statement said, urging residents of Arab-majority areas to support the SDF.
“We call on our people, especially the young, to take up arms and prepare to resist any attack. We are facing a battle for survival,” the statement added.
The government has called on SDF fighters – most of them from Arab tribes – to defect. Hundreds are said to have defected and joined tribal forces fighting the SDF.
Dozens of Arab tribal leaders say they are marginalized under Kurdish leadership, a claim the SDF denies, saying its ranks reflect the diversity of Syrian society.
(Reporting by Team Damascus; Writing by Suleiman al Khalidi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Jane Merriman)
