US denies taking control of Rmeilan air strip in Syria

The US has denied taking control of a Syrian air strip in response to an opposition group's claim that American troops are supporting Kurdish fighters in northern Syria with such a takeover.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday, a spokesman of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the military "denied that US forces have taken control of any airfield in Syria".

However, also on Friday, the website of Texas-based security analyst Stratfor said that satellite "imagery supports claims of US military activity in Syria", as it posted graphics appearing to show an expansion of the airfield's runway.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the US had taken control of the Rmeilan air strip in Syria's northern province of Hasakah to support Kurdish fighters against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

• The air strip near the city of Rmeilan was previously controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The formerly disused runway is close to Syria's borders with Iraq and Turkey.

"The new and improved infrastructure could help the Syrian Democratic Forces conduct offensive operations against the Islamic State. The United States has already carried out two weapons airdrops to the rebel Syrian Arab Coalition, a faction of the Syrian Democratic Forces," Stratfor said on its website........http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/denies-control-rmeilan-air-strip-syria-160122173747287.html
22/1/16
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