The Conoco gas field, one of the primary U.S. bases in Eastern Syria, was targeted by a barrage of missiles. This event marks a critical point in the ongoing regional conflicts that have escalated following Israel’s war declaration on Gaza.
The missile strike, as reported by Syrian sources in Deir ez-Zor province, saw several missiles hitting the gas field and its surrounding areas. This attack prompted an immediate state of alert among the U.S. forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the area. The roads leading to the field, particularly from the city of Al-Basira and the main Conoco-Deir ez-Zor route, were quickly secured.
The U.S. bases in Northeast Syria, under the control of SDF, have been facing daily threats from rocket fire and drone attacks since the outbreak of violence in Gaza. There are currently nine U.S. bases in Syria, with one in the al-Tanf area in Eastern Homs, two in Deir ez-Zor’s countryside, and six in the Hasakah province.
Moreover, in a related development, Iraqi armed factions announced a strike on a U.S. base at Erbil Airport in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In a press statement, these factions attributed the attack to retaliation against “crimes committed by the enemy in Gaza,” specifically targeting the U.S. base with a drone, which they claimed hit its intended target directly.
Since the Israeli offensive in Gaza, there have been 64 strikes against military bases in Iraq and Syria hosting U.S. forces, in addition to attacks on the Israeli city of Eilat using drones and missiles. This surge in military activities indicates a significant escalation in regional tensions and highlights the complex interplay of local and international forces in these conflict zones. The situation underscores the volatile nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where external interventions often have far-reaching implications for regional stability and security.
