Syria has called on the United Nations to take action against the United States over its occupation of parts of Syrian territory and the illicit extraction of natural resources in those areas. In a letter sent by Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Syria demanded compensation from the US for the alleged “plunder” of its gas and oil reserves. The letter also accused Washington and its allied militant groups of plundering Syria’s “wealth and strategic resources.”
According to the letter, the US military has caused direct and indirect damage to Syria’s oil and mineral sector, amounting to $115.2 billion from 2011 to 2023. Syria called for an end to the violations of international law and the UN Charter by the US, which has stationed troops illegally in the northeast and southeast of the country. The Syrian government urged the international community to hold American officials accountable for these alleged thefts and to force the US administration to provide compensation.
Syria also demanded the withdrawal of all American military personnel from the country and the return of oil and gas fields to government control. The government proclaimed that the US military presence in the Middle East would continue indefinitely, citing the ongoing threat posed by the remnants of the Islamic State (IS), as well as the strategic importance of oil in the region.
The conflict in Syria began in 2011 when opposition groups rebelled against President Bashar Assad’s government. In 2015, Assad invited Russia’s military to assist in the fight against IS, while the US had already launched its own military campaign in the year prior without the invitation of the Syrian government.
The Syrian government’s letter to the UN reflects its dissatisfaction with the US occupation of Syrian territory and the alleged exploitation of its resources. The demand for compensation highlights Syria’s desire to hold the US accountable for what it considers to be the unlawful seizure of its natural wealth. The Syrian government’s call for the withdrawal of American troops and the return of oil and gas fields to its control echoes its desire for sovereignty and control over its own resources.
The international community, particularly the United Nations, now faces the challenge of addressing Syria’s grievances and finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict. This includes considering the demands made by Syria for compensation and the withdrawal of US troops. In the wider context, the situation in Syria demonstrates the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Middle East and the ongoing struggles for power and resources in the region.
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