Syrian forces seize major oil, gas fields in eastern Syria

Jan 18: Syrian troops fighting US-backed Kurdish-led forces seized the Omar oil field, the country's largest, and the Conoco gas field in the eastern Deir Zor province as allied Arab tribal forces advanced in the oil-rich area along the border with Iraq, officials and security sources said on Sunday.

The takeover of the oil fields that lie east of the Euphrates River - a main source of revenue for the Kurdish-led forces - was a major blow to the group.

Syrian government officials said the oil wealth the militia had controlled to sustain its self-administered region had deprived the state of much needed resources.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said last week it was unacceptable for a militia to control a quarter of the country and hold its main oil and commodities resources.

The Syrian army pressed ahead into predominantly Arab-populated areas of northeast Syria controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite US calls to halt its advance.

A government source said Kurdish-led forces were overcome after advances led by the Arab tribal fighters, allowing the government and its tribal allies to move into a stretch of territory of more than 150 km along the eastern bank of the Euphrates stretching from Baghouz near the Iraqi border towards key towns, including al-Shuhail and Busayra.

Syrian government officials said the advances effectively brought most of Deir al-Zor province - the country's main oil- and wheat-producing area along the Euphrates - under their control.    �"REUTERS