ERBIL - A convoy of the US forces on Thursday was seen bringing in logistical and military reinforcements to their base in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province, a monitor reported.
The US forces, operating in the region as part of the Global Coalition to combat the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria, brought in the supplies "with the aim to accomplish the construction of the new military base in the surrounding areas of Al-Omar oil field in Deir Ezzor countryside," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited its sources.
The Britain-based monitoring group reminded that it had reported earlier the month that the US-led Coalition forces "intended to establish an airfield in that base," adding that they "carried out drills and maneuvers in the surrounding areas."
The base of al-Omar oil field is the largest US military base in north-east Syria. It is also the starting point of the security operations and airdrops against the Islamic State militants.
The movements of US and Coalition forces on the bank of the Euphrates river comes while more pro-Iran militia groups have lately been stationed on the opposite bank, SOHR noted.
The observatory revealed that the Iran-backed militias were "bringing in surface-to-surface missiles shipments in trucks used for transporting vegetables and fruits from Iraq to their positions on the Euphrates river bank in Al-Mayadeen area, which is located 14 kilometres away from the US base in Al-Omar oil field."