Syrian offensive hits Kurdish sources of income

Syrian government forces fighting against US-backed Kurdish forces have captured the Omar oil field, the largest in the country, and the Conoco gas field in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor. This was reported on Sunday by government officials and security sources.

The army's advance was supported by allied Arab tribal forces that penetrated oil-rich areas near the border with Iraq.

The capture of the fields east of the Euphrates River, which is the main source of income for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is a serious blow to the group. According to government sources, these resources have been used to finance militias and deprive the state of important revenues.

The Syrian army has taken control of more than 150 kilometers of territory along the eastern bank of the Euphrates from Baghouz on the Iraqi border towards the key cities of al-Shuhail and Busayra, despite calls from the US to halt the offensive.

On Saturday evening, the army also took control of the northern city of Tabqa and the adjacent dam, as well as the important Freedom Dam, formerly the Baath Dam, west of Raqqa. Kurdish authorities have not yet officially confirmed the loss of these strategic locations, and it was unclear whether fighting was continuing.

(reuters, est)