The United States military has begun building a new base in northeast Syria, according to local reports.
The new U.S. military base reportedly is located in the city of Hasakah, one of the largest cities with oil reserves in Syria’s northeast.
The U.S. maintains another base outside the city, “but this is the first time that U.S. forces have begun building a base in the city center.”

“While the Americans have had a presence in Hasakah, the construction of this base is probably part of their redeployment strategy in northeast Syria,” said the Kurdish commander
There are still about 500 troops in the area who, according to U.S. officials, are protecting the region’s oil fields.

“The U.S. flag is now raised over a building,” said journalist Jindar Berekat, who lives in Hasakah, adding that “it is not clear how many American soldiers will be stationed at this location, but their armored military vehicles are here and it looks like they are still constructing parts of it.”

Last month, U.S. forces reportedly expanded another military base, which is located on the strategic M4 highway that stretches from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in the west to the Iraqi border in the east.