The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) welcome the US's ever-increasing presence in Syria, although all this technically constitutes an invasion and has never been condoned by the country's government in Damascus. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the SDF's senior official said that the US had created a military base in the Syrian city of Raqqa, which was recently liberated from ISIS terrorists.

Axar.az reports citing Sputnik.

"The United States is building military bases in the areas freed by our forces from terrorists. We consider it to be the right strategy. Recently, America created a military base at the entrance to the territory of Raqqa, in the Jezra neighborhood," the official said.

He explained that the neighborhood was chosen by the Americans because it was slightly damaged during a military operation in Raqqa and can now be seen as the city's safest area.
In addition, there are no mine traps or explosives in Jezra, according to him.

"The base and the adjacent territory are reliably protected by American soldiers. No one, except these soldiers and SDF fighters, has access to the base," the official concluded.
Muhammed Kheir al-Akkam, professor of international relations at the University of Damascus, specifically pointed to the US's "fully coordinated move to replace ISIS with the SDF" in Syria.

In another development on Friday, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria said that the US had established a military base near the town of At Tanf on the Syria-Iraq border without the Syrian government's permission and banned anyone from coming within 55 kilometers. According to the Center, the base's proximity to the Rukban refugee camp precludes humanitarian access and may be considered a war crime.