Controlling oilfields now US priority

Strategy to deny IS income

WASHINGTON: The United States is committed to reinforcing its military position in Syria with additional assets to prevent oilfields from being taken over by remnants of the Islamic State militant group or others, a US defence official said yesterday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not disclose what military assets were under consideration.

The remarks were some of the clearest signs yet that the United States had not just halted plans for a full withdrawal from Syria but might add some new capabilities to strengthen those American forces that remain in the country.

‘‘One of the most significant gains by the US and our partners in the fight against Isis was gaining control of oilfields in eastern Syria — a crucial source of revenue for Isis,’’ the defence official said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

‘‘We must deny Isis this revenue stream to ensure there’s no resurgence.’’

A second US official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ‘‘continue to prepare options to take to the president’’.

President Donald Trump has been softening his pullout plans for Syria after a backlash from Congress, including among key Republicans, who say he cleared the way for a longthreatened Turkish incursion against Kurdish forces in Syria who had been America’s top allies in the battle against Islamic State.

The vacuum left by Trump’s partial withdrawal created an

opening Russia capitalised on by moving forces into the area.

Amid fears that Islamic State could stage a comeback, Trump said this week a small number of US troops would remain in the area of Syria ‘‘where they have the oil’’.

The USbacked Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who include Kurdish militia that Ankara sees as terrorists, had cleared the region from Islamic State control and has been detaining perhaps as many as 11,000 of the militants.

‘‘The US is committed to reinforcing our position, in coordination with our SDF partners, in northeast Syria with additional military assets to prevent those oilfields from falling back to into the hands of Isis or other destabilising actors,’’ the first official said. — Reuters