An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter belonging to the US military has reportedly crashed in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah, with no information available about the fate of those on board.
The Arabic language service of Russia’s Sputnik News Agency, citing local sources, reported that the aircraft went down inside a US-run base at the al-Jabsa oil field in the oil-rich city of al-Shaddadi, located about 60 kilometers south of the provincial capital city of Hasakah, on Tuesday morning.
The sources said the helicopter crashed during a refueling operation, and that there are reports of injuries among its crew members.
The US military has for years illegally stationed forces and equipment in northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at “preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.”
Many however, suspect that the US military presence in northeastern Syria is done in an attempt to further US imperialist ambitions in the area, as well as to exercise control over Syria’s oil wealth.
The US occupation is taking place without permission from the Syrian government nor a UN mandate, and is as such an illegal occupation under international law.
