News that US forces stationed in Syria looted huge amount of oil has caught worldwide attention recently. In early August, the Syrian Oil Ministry said that the US and its mercenaries are stealing an average of 66,000 barrels of oil per day in Syria, about 80 percent of Syria's oil production. "For the US, it is a game of high politics, but for the Syrians it is real suffering," said Syrian Ambassador to China Mhd. Hasanein Khaddam(Khaddam) in an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen.



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GT: Recently, the US' stealing Syrian oil has attracted worldwide attention. Through which channel does the US steal? What does it do with the oil?

Khaddam: The US stealing Syrian national treasure is a long-time crime. In fact, the US' occupation forces on Syrian territories have continued what ISIS was doing - stealing and destroying oil fields and pipelines machinery. The US' occupation forces learned all that from ISIS, and followed the same ISIS deeds, no difference whatsoever, to steal the Syrian oil in tanks on weekly, and sometimes daily basis, and smuggle it outside the country.

Just search on the net you will read many quotes by former US president Donald Trump saying that the US army is in Syria for oil, while the current US administration has its own claims. The two administrations have been stealing Syrian oil and gas, the same way ISIS did.

What matters for the Syrian people is they are deprived of their natural wealth, which is stolen midday. The crime is stealing, and the thief is "the leader of the free world" or the worst terrorist group. They share the same vision and policies and commit the same crimes. Please notice that the US is the richest country in the world, stealing a third world country, and imposing illegal unilateral measures to suffocate the economy and people of this country , and "starve and freeze the people to death' as one US politician described US policies in Syria.

GT: The Syrian Oil Ministry once said that the US and its mercenaries are stealing an average of 66,000 barrels of oil per day in Syria, about 80 percent of Syria's oil production. What are the losses to Syria? What is the impact on the Syrian economy and society?

Khaddam: There are direct losses of $24.2 billion until the end of the first half of 2022. Among them, $18.2 billion result from extraction, smuggling and illegal trade in Syrian oil, gas and mineral resources under the auspices, protection and support of the US forces illegally present in Syria. $3.2 billion result from sabotage and theft of facilities for the extraction and transportation of Syrian oil, gas and mineral resources by armed terrorist groups, and $2.8 billion result from bombing and aggression carried out by the forces of the so-called illegal "international coalition" on the Syrian oil and gas facilities.

The indirect losses totaled $82.9 billion which represents the values of lost Syrian production of crude oil, natural gas, LNG, various oil derivatives, and mineral wealth. The decline in production of planned rates within the framework of normal working conditions, came as a result of the crimes of sabotage, destruction, theft and illegal trade, which are being committed by armed terrorist groups and separatist armed groups that exist and are active in the areas of oil, gas and mineral resources fields, under the cover of the illegal American forces occupation.

The US aim of stealing Syrian oil is to cut Syria from its own oil. While we used to export electricity to Jordan and Lebanon, now we don't have the oil to generate electricity. We were sufficient in gas. Now gas is a treasure for Syrian families that need about 70 days to change a gas cylinder. It's real suffering. In winter nights, the temperature is always minus in many parts of Syria. It's really cold. We don't have the heating oil, and we don't have the electricity to use for heating and cooking.

The losses are not about wealth. Syria is now importing. Instead of using your own, you are buying at the international market price. The Americans and their agents were also burning crops so that the Syrians don't have it.

GT: Where did the oil theft begin? Can Syria stop it? What can other countries do to stop the US from stealing oil?

justice for syria