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WORLD NEWS Monday 23 october 2017

US-backed forces take Syria’s largest oil field from IS

fields. IS captured Al-Omar known. Syria had proven oil As IS advanced in Syria, it
in 2014, when the group reserves of 2.5 billion bar- seized control of most of
swept across large areas rels as of 2015, giving it the Syria’s oil fields and made
in Syria and neighboring largest supply among its petroleum a major earner
Iraq. At the time, the field neighbors after Iraq. The oil for the militant group, which
was estimated to produce industry was a pillar of the sold it on the black market
around 9,000 barrels a day. Syrian economy before the to other insurgents and the
Its current potential is un- conflict in 2011. Syrian government.q

This July 30, 2017 photo, shows an oil field controlled by the
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Rmeilan,
Hassakeh province, northeast Syria. The SDF, with air support
from the U.S.-led coalition, said Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 that they
had captured the Al-Omar field, Syria’s largest oil field, from the
Islamic State group.
(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
By SARAH EL DEEB militants have taken cov-
Associated Press er in oil company houses
BEIRUT (AP) — U.S.-backed nearby, where clashes are
fighters captured Syria’s underway. The U.S.-led co-
largest oil field from the Is- alition confirmed the SDF
lamic State group Sunday, had retaken the oil field.
marking a major advance After coming under heavy
against the extremists in an fire from IS, pro-govern-
area coveted by pro-gov- ment forces retreated from
ernment forces. the area around Al-Omar
With IS in retreat, the Kurd- field, according to the
ish-led Syrian Democratic Britain-based Syrian Obser-
Forces and the Syrian gov- vatory for Human Rights.
ernment have been in a The SDF said government
race to secure parts of the forces were 3 kilometers (2
oil-rich Deir el-Zour province miles) away from the fields.
along the border with Iraq. Syrian troops, backed by
The Al-Omar oil field was Russian warplanes and
a major source of income Iranian-sponsored militias,
for the militant group and have retaken nearly all of
is considered one Syria’s the provincial capital of
most productive. The con- Deir el-Zour, as well as the
dition of the field, which has town of Mayadeen, an-
been controlled by IS for other IS stronghold, which is
three years, was not clear across the Euphrates River
following intense coalition from the Al-Omar field.
and Russian airstrikes. The SDF focused their op-
The SDF, with air support erations in rural Deir el-Zour
from the U.S.-led coalition, on the eastern side of the
said it captured the field in river, and have already
a “swift and wide military seized a major natural gas
operation.” It said some field and other smaller oil