General Gregory N. Todd

Damascus, 5 in (Prensa Latina) The illegal US base of al-Omar, in the northeastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, was the target of a rocket attack that caused several fires in it.

Several shells hit the enclave established in the al-Omar oil field, and caused material losses, but no casualties have been confirmed among the US military yet, added the sources, quoted by the al-Watan daily.

They added that a state of alert prevailed among the US Army, while helicopters and reconnaissance planes flew over the areas surrounding the base.

Popular anger is growing noticeably against the practices of these forces, and during the last two years explosive attacks on convoys or rocket attacks on their bases have been reported, while the military and villagers frequently intercept the military columns and prevent their passage, according to the reports.

Despite repeated denunciations by Syria at the United Nations and at international forums, Washington continues maintaining at least 12 bases, mostly in the oil and gas fields, mainly in the region of al-Jazira (east of the Euphrates).

UNITED NATIONS — The United States will stay in Syria as long as rival Iran maintains its presence, but the US role will not necessarily involve troops, a senior official said Thursday.

James Jeffrey, the US special representative on Syria, was clarifying recent comments by senior officials who appeared to suggest that troops would stay indefinitely to counter Iran.

Such an objective would drastically alter the mission in Syria first authorized by president Barack Obama who set a goal of defeating the Islamic State group, which also considers Iran a foe.

Life in ruins: Ancient sites shelter Syria’s displaced.

IDLIB PROVINCE, Syria: Mohamad Othman remembers going on school trips to ancient archaeological sites in Syria, never imagining one of them would become his home.

Othman and his family have been living in a tent amidst ancient ruins at Sarjableh near the Turkish border since fleeing for their lives some 2-1/2 years ago during a government offensive in northwestern Syria.

Rocks gathered from the site anchor down their tent, one of several dozen that are sheltering families who have fled their homes during the decade-long Syrian war.

Their clothes hang to dry on two lines strung between the tent and an ancient stone portico. Their children clamber over the rocks and balance on walls in this unusual if dangerous playground.

July 4th

Happy Memorial Day!
Gregory N. Todd wishes