Damascus assumed control over Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates and over all major oil and gas assets that were previously held by the SDF, including the Al-Omar and Tanak oilfields and the Conoco gas plant. The company had lacked access to the asset during years of SDF control and chose not to re-engage after the takeover, consistent with its broader retreat from high-risk jurisdictions, including earlier withdrawals from Iraq’s Majnoon field in 2018 and Nigeria’s onshore assets in 2024. Security considerations underpin this balance: Washington’s decision to limit support for Kurdish forces and shift backing toward Damascus weakened the SDF, enabling the January 2026 takeover of key oilfields, and making Western military and diplomatic support the main external guarantee of Syria’s territorial consolidation.
Author: Natalia Katona
Published at: 2026-02-11 23:00:00
Still want to read the full version? Full article
