Posted on 10/22/2017 8:39:15 AM PDT by Navy Patriot
In a move that surprised many observers of the ongoing war for Deir Ezzor province, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) handed over one of Syria's largest gas fields to Russian forces on Thursday, possibly as the result of unprecedented direct talks between high ranking Russian officials and Kurdish leaders in Qamishli in northeastern Syria.
Conoco gas plant (also locally called Al-Tabiya, which is the plant's main feeder field) lies on the eastern side of the Euphrates outside of Deir Ezzor city - which was recently liberated from ISIS as the Syrian Army and Russian forces approached from the west of the Euphrates. The Conoco field had been held by ISIS since 2014, and was taken by the SDF on September 23rd as the mainly Kurdish force advanced from the east. The now fast crumbling Islamic State relied on much of its financing through its prior consolidation over many oil and gas sites in the resource rich Deir Ezzor province.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Ping for interest.
If true they screwed over their one consistent ally throughout this entire mess. Kurds are Sunnis. Assad and Iran, Russian partners, are shiite.
Typical islamic backstabbing, and here I thought better of them.
Its living by their wits over there. No time for sentimentality. Sad just the same.
Syria was Always, let me repeat always about Gas pipelines in Europe. This is a red herring headline, spouting Russia as the only contender. Misleading news via agenda.
Agreed
Yep, same for Ukraine, adding in land and mineral rights.
Does not surprise me. I was told it was turned over to the Russians after the SDF captured it, and after the recent meeting of top Kurd officials in Russia.
Add to that, why the heck aren't we supporting Iraq Kurds being an independent nation? It would be a wonderful buffer against Turkey.
I thought the MSM had taught you better.
The Kurds have a sizable population in Turkey, Syria and Iran. Kurdish independence in one of those countries will lead to a struggle to “free” the Kurds in the other two countries - which none of the three countries want to see.
A good chunk of the Kurds are Marxist/Communists.
Just sayin’.
Um, take a look in Iraq and how the Kurds were treated by their “allies” there and then put yourself in the shoes of Syrian Kurds dealing with the same “allies”. There aren’t any good guys in any of this, including the US.
The mess in the Mideast is to a great degree due to US/European meddling since WW1. I'll stay by my opinion that an independent Kurdistan with the US and Europe getting out of there would be terrific. You say they have communist tendencies? If they stop ISIS and keep Turkey in check, their government and alliances are none of our business. (neither are their oil resources and pipelines)
No, it wasn’t. I know that’s the pop theory, but the truth was that this is part of a neocon plan to remake the middle east over and solidify Sunni power.
If it was a mere pipeline, it could have easily routed through Israel and into The Med and Turkey. Also, disagreements evaporate in the face of cash to be made.
Assad was a secular leader, not an ideologue. If the Gulf States and Saudis were willing to pay him to cross Syria, there would have simply been a deal made. Even better for him, he could have used it to move his products too.
Syria wasn’t a particularly at odds with the Saudis before the Saudi/CIA/Golf State rebel movement was launched.
Iraq was an object lesson for all regional players. We can change policy every 4 years and dramatically so; sooner if they believe tgis impeachment carp. I see an independent Kurdistan in our future and likely aligned with Russia since Turkey, our purpirted ally, vehemently opposes this. Putin is playing 3d chess still.
Pretty smart on their part
The Russians have proven their commitment to anti- ISIS allies in multiple countries
The Russians have proven their commitment to anti- ISIS allies in multiple countries
The Russians had no choice but to be smart about it, and deal with it to the best of their ability, it's right on their doorstep.
Although the statement about the refinery is true. There were other things in the article that I question.
It makes perfect sense for the Syrian State to have control of the refinery. Those are continuous processes and the wrong people at the knows can mess up the plant. So regardless of how this will eventually be negotiated it is important to take charge to protect the facility.
Now the assumption of who lost (US) is nonsense.
The Syrian Kurds have never advocated overthrow of Assad. Not at anytime in the war.
They know the reality of the situation.
I do have issue with Iran. And I’m sure Trump does also.
Well, strictly speaking Assad is Alawite, not orthodox Shi'ite. As for the Kurds, while the majority are Sunni, a large number are Shi'ite.
So the situation is not as simple as you have painted it.
That was my understanding, as well as the corollary being true, that (the) Assad(s) gave considerable autonomy to Syrian Kurds and did not oppress them, just not absolute independence. Is this correct?
How about the Kurds as a whole, are theycohesive in this attitude?
There is so much misinformation and mischaracterization of events in reports. The Kurds could be played or double crossed, but it appears neither Russia nor Assad are in a position that would benefit their doing so.
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