
Syria's Kurds began supplying oil to Damascus, oil ministry says
BEIRUT, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria have begun providing oil from local fields they manage to the central government in Damascus, Syrian oil ministry spokesman Ahmed Suleiman told Reuters on Saturday.
It was the first public acknowledgement of internal oil deliveries from Syria's oil-rich northeast to the Islamist-run government installed after former leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in December.
Suleiman said the oil was from fields in the provinces of Hasakeh and Deir el-Zor and that the deliveries took place based on an amended version of a previous arrangement between the Assad government and Kurdish authorities.
He said Syria's new leaders had changed articles in that deal that had 'served the interests of people linked to the Assad regime'.
A source in the Syrian Ministry of Oil revealed, in a statement to Al Jazeera, 'We will receive 15,000 barrels of oil per day from the Syrian Democratic Forces.'
Syria exported 380,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) in 2010, a year before protests against Assad's rule spiralled into a nearly 14-year war that devastated the country's economy and infrastructure – including its oil.
Oilfields changed hands multiple times, with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ultimately capturing the key northeast fields, although U.S. and European sanctions made both legitimate exports and imports difficult.
The United States issued a six-month sanctions exemption in January allowing some energy transactions and the European Union is set to suspend its sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction.
In the interim, Syria is seeking to import oil via local intermediaries after its first post-Assad import tenders garnered little interest from major traders due to sanctions and financial risks, several trade sources told Reuters.
The internal oil trade is also a key part of talks between the northeast region and the new authorities in Damascus, which want to bring all regions in Syria under centralized control.
Sources said the SDF would likely need to relinquish control of oil revenues as part of any settlement. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said last month that his force was open to handing over responsibility for oil resources to the new administration, provided the wealth was distributed fairly to all provinces.
Reuters
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


MTV Lebanon
8 hours ago
- MTV Lebanon
Israeli Forces Seize Gaza Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg
Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a charity vessel that had tried to break a naval blockade of the war-torn Gaza Strip on Monday and the boat with its crew of 12, including activist Greta Thunberg, is now heading to a port in Israel. The British-flagged yacht, Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. However, the boat was boarded during the night before it could reach shore, the FFC said on its Telegram account. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that it was under Israeli control. "The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," the ministry wrote on X. All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry later added. "They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over." Among the 12-strong crew are Swedish climate campaigner Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. "The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.," Hassan posted on X. A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air. The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Foreign Ministry said it would be taken to Gaza. "The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," it wrote. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Katz said he had instructed that upon the boat's arrival at Ashdod port, the activists will be shown videos of atrocities committed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Hamas condemned the seizure of the boat as "state terrorism" and said it salutes its activists. Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 to stop weapons from reaching the militant group, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel and the West. The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began when Hamas-led militants rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Hamas-run Gaza and left its more than 2 million population largely displaced and at risk of famine, according to the United Nations. The United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has supported the FFC operation and on Sunday, urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade. "Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza," she wrote on X.


Al Manar
8 hours ago
- Al Manar
E3, US Misusing I.A.E.A. to Achieve Own Political Objectives: Iran
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has criticized the United States and three European countries – namely France, Britain, and Germany – for misusing the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) for their own political gains. During his weekly press briefing on Monday, Baqaei responded to a question raised about the West's push for an anti-Iran resolution at the I.A.E.A.'s Board of Governors meeting in Vienna this week. He said that the Islamic Republic had taken steps in the past one or two years in cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog but the three European countries and the United States often abused the agency for their own political purposes. According to the spokesperson, the I.A.E.A. decided to first prepare a report under the political pressure and influence from the Western countries, and subsequently the same countries abused that report. He underlined that Iran's interactions with the agency, from the very beginning, had been based on its commitments arising from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. France, Britain, and Germany, and the United States are reportedly seeking a draft resolution that accuses Iran of 'non-compliance' with safeguards obligations for the first time in almost 20 years, an issue that was declared closed within the framework of the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tehran has already warned that any such move will be met with a serious and decisive response. Enrichment a non-negotiable issue Regarding the issue of Iran's continued uranium enrichment, Baqaei said that the Islamic Republic did not need licenses in this regard and would not allow others to impose their will on Iran's right to enrichment. He pointed that enriching uranium does not necessarily mean having a weapons program, arguing that many countries, including some close allies of the United States, are enriching without having a weapons program. Enrichment is an integral part of the nuclear fuel cycle, which has been developed after decades of effort and dedication of Iranian scientists, he said, adding that 'This right is explicitly recognized for member states and is non-negotiable under Article 4 of the NPT.' Iran's nuclear program is peaceful Referring to a recent I.A.E.A. report, Baqaei said that the agency did not mention any non-compliance or deviation in Iran's nuclear program from the peaceful path. He stated that the report itself has several problems as it was drafted with political goals and in order to make excuses for Iran's nuclear program, but there is no mention of Iran's program being non-peaceful. The spokesperson said the position of the Islamic Republic is quite clear that the country, as a responsible member of the NPT, remains committed to continuing the peaceful path. He also touched on Israeli propaganda against Iran's nuclear program, saying that the issue has been affected by the hype created by the regime. He said that Iran's nuclear program has been under the most stringent monitoring mechanisms of the I.A.E.A. Baqaei accused European countries of piling up pressure under the pretext of lack of transparency simply following Israeli narratives. 'If you look at the history of the issue, as I mentioned before, the Zionist regime first claimed in 1984 that Iran was seeking to produce nuclear weapons. Now 40 years have passed since then and the status of the JCPOA is also clear to everyone.' U.S. proposal for Iran Addressing a question related to the U.S. proposal that was conveyed to Iran by Oman on May 31, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not give the details but said the proposal neither had the characteristics of active and bilateral negotiations nor was it the outcome of the indirect Iran-U.S. talks held so far. Baqaei emphasized that any plan that does not take into account the rights and interests of the Iranian nation, whether in the field of nuclear energy or with regard to ensuring the effective lifting of oppressive sanctions, is unacceptable to the country and shows a lack of seriousness in the negotiations. He noted that Iran will present its own reasonable, logical, and balanced proposal to the other side through Oman once it is finalized. Europe deviated from diplomatic path Referring to anti-Iran stance and rhetoric by some European countries, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that 'the confrontation with European countries cannot in any way create an incentive for cooperation.' He underlined that Iran had clearly stated from the beginning that it is ready to resolve outstanding issues through talks but the European parties not only failed to present constructive proposals, but also withdrew from the diplomatic process for other reasons. According to the spokesperson, a destructive and unconstructive approach was seen when European countries called for the I.A.E.A. report and then drafted a resolution to push during the agency's Board of Governors this week. He warned that the Western countries would be responsible for the consequences of their actions as Iran would take proportionate and reciprocal steps. Referring to activating the 'snapback' mechanism, Baqaei said that the issue should not be exaggerated too much as Iran's nuclear program is completely peaceful and there is no excuse or legal basis to put the Iranian nuclear issue on the Security Council's agenda. Slamming ban on Iranians entering the U.S. Addressing President Donald Trump's executive order to ban citizens of certain countries, including Iran, from entering the U.S., Baqaei said that the move is discriminatory and racist and is completely condemnable both from the perspective of human rights and moral obligations. He said that since the majority of the population affected by this regulation is Muslim, Trump's decision is based on the nationality and religion of individuals. 'Countries and governments are not allowed to enact laws based on the nationality, race, religion or ethnicity of individuals as such policies violate the fundamental principles of equality and justice and represent an inhumane and illegal approach,' he added. Genocide amid international silence The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, once gain deplored the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, the silence and inaction of international institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (U.N.S.C.), has emboldened the regime to continue massacring people in Gaza and the West Bank, he said. Referring to the U.S. veto of a U.N.S.C. resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza last week, Baqaei pointed that Washington's stance once again proved its backing for Israel and granting its officials impunity for gross human rights violations. He called on the international community to take serious and urgent action to stop the sad and horrific situation the Palestinians are going through for the past two years.


Ya Libnan
12 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
California governor calls Trump a 'dictator', says National Guard deployment in LA unlawful
A man waves a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from a burning vehicle during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, near Los Angeles City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson California National Guard troops were deployed to the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday to help quell a third day of protests over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement, a step the state's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, called unlawful. Police were making more arrests after at least 10 on Sunday and 29 the previous night, Los Angeles police officers told a news briefing. National Guard troops guarded federal government buildings, as police and protesters clashed in separate demonstrations over federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. Los Angeles police declared several rallies to be 'unlawful assemblies', accusing some protesters of throwing concrete projectiles, bottles and other items at police. Video images showed several self-driving cars from Alphabet's Waymo were set ablaze on a downtown street on Sunday evening. Los Angeles police officers on horseback attempted to control the crowds. Demonstrators shouted 'Shame on you!' at police and some appeared to throw objects, video images showed. One group blocked the 101 Freeway, a major downtown thoroughfare. Groups of protesters, many carrying Mexican flags and signs denouncing U.S. immigration authorities, gathered in spots around the city. The Los Angeles branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized speakers outside City Hall for an afternoon rally. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he requested the Trump administration to withdraw its order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles county, calling it unlawful. In an interview with MSNBC, Newsom said he planned to sue the administration over the deployment, adding that Trump 'has created the conditions' around the protests. Newsom accused Trump of trying to manufacture a crisis and violating California's state sovereignty. 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,' he wrote in a post on X. However, Police Chief Jim McDonnell told a media briefing on Sunday night that the protests were getting out of control. Asked if the National Guard was needed, McDonnell said police would not 'go to that right away,' but added, 'Looking at the violence tonight, I think we've got to make a reassessment.' In a social media post, Trump called on McDonnell to do so. 'He should, right now!!!' Trump added. 'Don't let these thugs get away with this. Make America great again!!!' The White House disputed Newsom's characterization, saying in a statement, 'Everyone saw the chaos, violence and lawlessness.' Earlier, about a dozen National Guard, along with Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushed back a group of demonstrators outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, video showed. U.S. Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three spots in the Los Angeles area. Their mission was limited to protecting federal personnel and property. In a social media post on Sunday, Trump called the demonstrators 'violent, insurrectionist mobs' and said he was directing his cabinet officers 'to take all such action necessary' to stop what he called 'riots.' Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he threatened violence against demonstrators who spit on police or National Guard troops, saying, 'They spit, we hit.' He did not cite any specific incidents. 'If we see danger to our country and to our citizens, it will be very, very strong in terms of law and order,' Trump said. The FBI offered a $50,000-reward for information on a suspect accused of throwing rocks at police vehicles in Paramount, injuring a federal officer. Despite Trump's rhetoric about the demonstrations, he has not invoked the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that empowers a president to deploy the U.S. military to suppress events like civil disorder. Asked on Sunday whether he was considering doing so, he said, 'It depends on whether or not there's an insurrection.' 'HIGH ALERT' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the Pentagon was prepared to mobilize active-duty troops 'if violence continues' in Los Angeles, saying the Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton were on 'high alert.' U.S. Northern Command said about 500 Marines were prepared to deploy if ordered. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blamed the Trump administration for inciting tension by sending in the National Guard, but also condemned protesters who became violent. 'I don't want people to fall into the chaos that I believe is being created by the administration completely unnecessarily,' Bass told a press conference. Vanessa Cárdenas, the head of the immigration advocacy group America's Voice, accused the Trump administration of 'trumping up an excuse to abuse power, and deliberately stoke and force confrontations around immigration.' On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS' 'Face the Nation' that the National Guard would provide safety around buildings to people engaged in peaceful protest and to law enforcement. Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people in the country illegally and lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting ICE a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day. Census data suggests a significant part of the population in Democratic-run Los Angeles is Hispanic and foreign-born. But the sweeping enforcement measures have also included legally residents, some with permanent residence, spurring legal challenges. On Sunday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the U.S. government over the immigration raids and National guard deployment. 'We do not agree with this way of addressing the immigration issue,' Sheinbaum, who has sought to cultivate a positive relationship with Trump, said at a public event. 'The phenomenon will not be addressed with raids or violence. It will be by sitting down and working on comprehensive reform.' TRUMP'S JUSTIFICATION Trump's justification for the National Guard deployment cited a provision of Title 10 of the U.S. Code on the Armed Forces. However, Title 10 also says the 'orders for these purposes shall be issued through the governors of the States.' It was not immediately clear if the president had the legal authority to deploy the National Guard without Newsom's order. Title 10 allows for National Guard deployment by the federal government if there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.' Those troops are only allowed to engage in limited activities and cannot undertake ordinary law enforcement activities. Trump's memo says the troops will 'temporarily protect ICE and other United States government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property, at locations where protests against these functions are occurring, or are likely to occur.'