Washington seeks to maintain its presence on the territory of Syria without allowing the situation in the Arab republic to stabilize. This was stated in a report released Tuesday by the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
"The information coming to the Russian SVR shows the US administration's desire to maintain the American presence on the territory of Syria without allowing the situation in that country to stabilize," the SVR pointed out.
The SVR also reported that the US intends to launch a media campaign to inspire protest sentiments in Syria. "Washington intends to launch a broad media campaign, including in Arabic-language social networks, to inspire protest sentiments in Syrian society," the service informed.
"The intention is to use the difficult socio-economic situation to organize mass anti-government demonstrations, during which to provoke law enforcement agencies to the disproportionate use of force against 'peaceful protesters,'" the SVR pointed out.
The SVR also stated that Washington is actively involved in the illegal oil trade from northeastern Syria. They pointed to the continued plundering by American companies of natural resources in the republic. "Washington remains actively involved in the illegal trade of oil produced in the occupied territories of northeastern Syria. Every month, up to 3 million barrels of crude are extracted from fields in Hasaka, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces," the SVR said.
The press bureau noted that about one-third of the stolen oil is sold to Iraq's Kurdish Autonomous Region at $35-40 per barrel with the help of Americans. "The oil is delivered to Iraqi Kurdistan by truck, guarded by US Armed Forces personnel. In addition, the US military contingent and employees of private military companies organize the system of security of extractive and refining infrastructure," added in the SVR.
It was also reported that the US is planning to target extremists in Syria against the Russian and Iranian militaries. "US intelligence agencies plan to target "sleeper cells" of extremists in Damascus, the surrounding region and Latakia province to carry out targeted actions against members of the Syrian security forces as well as Russian and Iranian servicemen," the SVR stressed.
The report also says that Washington intends to deploy a broad media campaign to inspire protest sentiments in Syrian society and use the difficult socio-economic situation in the country to organize mass anti-government protests. "To achieve their goals in Syria, the Americans are actively using their close contacts with the so-called armed opposition and, in fact, with radical Islamist groups," the SVR added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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Based on materials from TASS