The Other Occupation: US Forces in Syria

The strategic placement of US military bases in northeastern Syria is no coincidence. Stretching from the Syria-Jordan-Iraq border in the southwest of the country to areas west of the Euphrates in the northeast, there are 28 US installations, of which 24 are military bases.

This deployment, carefully planned with specific geostrategic objectives, exists to serve Washington’s local, regional, and international interests.

According to US data, the number of American troops in Syria has increased dramatically from 50 in 2015 to more than 2,000 by the end of 2017. Reports in April 2017 suggested that then-national security adviser Brigadier General H.R. McMaster was considering sending up to 50,000 troops to Iraq and Syria.

This substantial military buildup was justified by the Obama administration as necessary to address internal instability in Syria, including rising terrorism and weakening government institutions. The U.S. military presence capitalized on these conditions, which were exacerbated by foreign interventions that pumped weapons, money, and intelligence into militant factions of the so-called “Free Syrian Army” and extremist groups such as the Al-Nusra Front and, later, ISIS.

The US also supported Kurdish forces in establishing an autonomous administration in northeastern Syria, a move aimed at balancing Moscow’s influence after Damascus sought Russian air force intervention to help thwart foreign-backed militancy.

Destabilization and economic blockade

One of the main objectives of the US presence is to plunder Syria’s oil and gas resources. This not only funds the activities of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but also strengthens the economic blockade in Syria, exemplified by the Caesar Act sanctions imposed in June 2020.

At the time, former US envoy to Syria James Jeffrey stated that these sanctions contributed to the collapse of the Syrian pound and undermined the Syrian government’s economic policy, noting that Damascus “is incapable of administering an effective economic policy and conducts money laundering in Lebanese banks.”

The US also uses oil revenues to fund its military presence and obstruct Syria’s reconstruction efforts. For example, in August 2020, CNN reported on a deal approved by the Trump administration allowing US company Delta Crescent Energy LLC to develop oil fields controlled by the SDF.

Contain Iran and Protect Israeli Interests

At the regional level, the US presence is aimed at preventing Iran from establishing land links to the Mediterranean through Iraq and Syria. This strategic positioning also serves as a backup for Incirlik Air Base in Turkey amid rising tensions between Washington and Ankara.

Furthermore, US bases in southeastern Syria and near the Iraqi border contain Arab tribes and protect Israel by blocking the land corridor between Syria and Iraq. Specifically, this move sought to isolate Syria from its regional allies, particularly Iran and Hezbollah, which pose a direct threat to Israel.

Countering Russian and Chinese influence

Internationally, the U.S. presence in Syria helps Washington maintain its dominance over the global order by countering the influence of Eurasian powers Russia and China. The deployment in Syria is seen as a barrier to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which threatens to boost Beijing’s economic growth in ways that could undermine the U.S. strategic positioning.

Despite the significant US presence, the long-term sustainability of American troops in hostile terrain is uncertain.

Washington’s efforts to change Syria’s political system have largely failed, and U.S. bases and facilities have faced increasing attacks from regional resistance groups. Since November 2023, U.S. troops and facilities have faced 102 attacks, reflecting growing opposition to the U.S. occupation of Syrian lands.

More recently, successful Russian diplomacy and moves toward Syrian-Turkish reconciliation may force the US to choose between confrontation and withdrawal.

The Future of US Involvement in Syria

The upcoming US presidential election could also influence the future of American involvement in Syria. If the current administration manages to negotiate a regional ceasefire agreement – ​​and declares serious interest in returning to the Iran nuclear deal – it may opt to withdraw troops from Syria to shore up Democratic support. On the other hand, if Donald Trump returns to power, a possible deal with Russia could accelerate the US exit from Ukraine and Syria.

Since 2015, successive U.S. administrations have failed to provide a clear and consistent figure on the total U.S. troop presence in Syria. However, estimates indicate that approximately 3,000 U.S. troops are stationed at various bases in the provinces of Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, west of the Euphrates and along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The troop deployments form a strategic ‘ring’ around the region’s critical oil and gas resources, which constitute the bulk of Syria’s underground wealth. The concentration of US bases in these areas highlights their importance in securing energy resources and maintaining control over transport routes for these commodities.

Securing Syria’s energy and sovereignty

The Rmeilan base, located in the rural area northeast of Hasakah, was the first U.S. military outpost in Syria. It houses about 500 personnel whose primary mission is to protect oil facilities in the area. The area includes approximately 1,300 oil wells, producing between 120,000 and 150,000 barrels per day before 2011 and about two million cubic meters of gas.

The Al-Shaddadi base, located southeast of the city of the same name, is strategically positioned near the region’s most significant oil reserves. In its vicinity is the Al-Gypsa field, which contains some 500 oil wells, making it the second largest oil field in Al-Hasakah. The base also covers the Al-Shaddadi gas plant, further emphasizing its critical role in controlling Syria’s energy resources.

The Al-Omari field base in Deir Ezzor is the largest and most important US base in Syria, located in the Al-Omari oil field, which produced up to 80,000 barrels per day prior to 2011. This base, along with others such as the Conoco, Tal Baydar, Life Stone, Qasrak, Himos and Al-Tanf fields, ensures US dominance over Syria’s most vital and resource-rich terrain.

The U.S. military presence in northeastern Syria is a strategic deployment with far-reaching implications. While it has served Washington’s goals of containing Iranian influence, protecting Israeli interests, depleting Syria’s economy, and maintaining U.S. hegemony in the Levant and the Persian Gulf, American troops now face the threat of daily attacks.

Resistance to the US presence currently comes from local Arab tribes and the region’s Axis of Resistance, but radical changes in regional dynamics and possible post-election shifts in US foreign policy could expand opposition to these forces and eventually force a US withdrawal from Syria.

However, as long as the US continues to see value in its presence in the region, it is likely to maintain its military bases and pursue its strategic objectives in Syria for the foreseeable future.

By Mohamed Nader Al-Omari, writer and researcher specializing in international relations and holding a master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution, for The Cradle.