By Al-Fassel | 2024-09-13

With a series of joint military drills in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province, the international coalition against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have ramped up their capabilities.

The joint exercises, which come in the aftermath of a series of attacks on international coalition bases in Syria and Iraq, included live fire training on shelling forward targets with advanced missiles.

The international coalition on September 9 brought military reinforcements to its base at the Conoco gas field in the province's north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

This comprised some 20 trucks carrying military and logistical equipment.

A US military cargo plane meanwhile transported military and logistical equipment and soldiers from Iraq to Kharab al-Jir base in rural Rumaylan, north of al-Hasakeh, the Observatory said.

This comes as part of efforts to fortify bases of the international coalition -- officially known as Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) -- in Syria against attacks staged by Iran-backed militias, it said.

Operational exercises

Live fire operational exercises in Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakeh provinces aim to "validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness," the international coalition said September 11.

"Extensive planning and proper safety measures are taken before and during live fire rehearsals in order to protect the coalition and the local population," it said.

Joint military exercises at the Conoco gas field have included simulated drone attacks and firing live ammunition.

In drills held September 7, participating forces fired advanced missiles toward al-Johaif hill in northwestern Deir Ezzor and the surrounding desert, as well as flare grenades over the town of al-Ezba.

US fighter jets and helicopters flew overhead, the Observatory said.

Joint forces also held military exercises at al-Omar oil field in eastern Deir Ezzor province, the largest US base in Syria, with US helicopters flying over the base.

Prior to the drills, a military convoy of US forces with air support from helicopters had set off from al-Omar oil field to the US base at Conoco, opposite areas held by Iran-backed militias on the western bank of the Euphrates river.

The Conoco base has come under attack more than once since October 2023, with missiles fired at it July 27 from areas under the control of the Syrian regime and Iran-aligned militias.

On that occasion, US forces responded by firing heavy artillery shells on Syrian regime and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) militia positions.