American Plunder of Syrian Oil

 

Photo source: Al Mayadeen

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront

In July 2022, China Daily reported that US military tankers had carried thousands of litres of crude oil from Syria’s north‑eastern province of Hasakah into the semi‑autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. The Chinese paper accused Washington of ‘bandit behaviour’, claiming that ‘stealing oil is their profession’. China’s foreign ministry issued a statement urging the United States to respect Syria’s sovereignty, lift unilateral sanctions, and ‘stop plundering Syria’s national resources’.

Syria’s official news agency SANA echoed these accusations. In August 2022, it reported that 144 tankers laden with Syrian oil crossed into Iraq via the al‑Mahmoudiya border, only days after another convoy of 60 vehicles passed through the al‑Waleed crossing. SANA described these transfers as violations of international law, portraying US forces as occupiers.

The Pentagon, however, has consistently maintained that its deployment in north‑eastern Syria is aimed at preventing oilfields from falling into the hands of ISIS extremists. US troops have been stationed in Deir Ezzor and Hasakah since 2015, working alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Damascus rejects this explanation, insisting that Washington’s true purpose is to exploit Syria’s mineral wealth. Former President Donald Trump reinforced this perception when he openly stated in 2019 that US forces were in Syria ‘for the oil’, contradicting his own officials during a meeting with Turkey’s President Erdogan.

According to Syria’s Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, Washington is stealing more than 80 per cent of the country’s daily oil output. Official figures claimed that in the first half of 2022 Syria produced 14.5 million barrels, averaging 80,300 barrels per day. Of this, 66,000 barrels — about 83 per cent — were allegedly taken by US forces. These claims, reported by SANA and repeated by Russian and Chinese media, were said to be backed by footage and photographs. Independent verification, however, remains limited.

The accusations extend beyond oil. As Steve Sweeney wrote in Morning Star Online, US forces have also been accused of smuggling wheat and even gold, leaving Syrians hungry under the weight of sanctions. He argued that the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, signed by Trump in 2020, has blocked aid to Syria until Bashar al‑Assad leaves power, worsening economic chaos. Sweeney suggested that journalists are often too afraid to report openly on alleged US resource theft, and claimed that even the SDF has confirmed such practices.

The SDF itself has been accused of handing over oil reserves to local companies to prevent them falling back under Assad’s control. This reflects the complex politics of north‑east Syria, where Kurdish forces balance between American support and local autonomy. The controversial oil deal between the SDF and US firm Delta Crescent Energy, struck in 2020, expired in April 2021 after President Joe Biden cancelled a waiver that had allowed trading in Syria.

The human cost of these disputes is evident. Syrian journalist Mohammad al‑Saghir has reportedly been detained since 2019 by armed groups in north‑east Syria, allegedly for reporting on oil and wheat theft. His case highlights the dangers faced by local reporters in a region where multiple militias and foreign forces operate.

Russia has also seized on the allegations. In July 2022, President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of ‘looting’ Syrian oil while simultaneously imposing sanctions on Damascus. He demanded that US forces withdraw from the east Euphrates, warning that their presence had produced ‘disastrous results’.

The scale of US control is significant. American forces occupy more than 30 per cent of Syrian territory, including oil‑rich regions such as Deir Ezzor, Hasakah, and Raqqa. These areas have long attracted interest from US energy corporations, some of which had ties to the Trump administration.

The broader context is one of geopolitical rivalry. China and Russia amplify allegations of US oil theft to undermine Washington’s legitimacy in Syria. Syrian state media portrays the US as an occupying power, while American officials insist their mission is counter‑terrorism. Independent observers note that while US forces do oversee oilfields, the revenues are often channelled through the SDF to fund local administration rather than being shipped to America. Yet the secrecy surrounding these operations fuels suspicion.

The accusations of wheat theft add another layer. Syria, once self‑sufficient in grain, has faced shortages since the war began. Sanctions and conflict have disrupted supply chains, leaving millions food insecure. Reports of US convoys carrying grain into Iraq, whether accurate or not, resonate strongly with Syrians enduring hunger.

Narratively, the story of Syria’s oil encapsulates the tragedy of the war. A country devastated by conflict, sanctions, and foreign intervention sees its resources contested by external powers. For Damascus, the oilfields symbolise sovereignty lost. For Washington, they represent leverage against ISIS and Assad. For Moscow and Beijing, they are evidence of American hypocrisy.

Ultimately, the allegations of US oil theft in Syria remain politically charged. While China and Syria have repeatedly accused the US of ‘banditry’, independent verification is scarce. What is clear is that Syria’s oilfields have become a focal point of international rivalry, with civilians suffering from shortages and economic collapse.