More Reports That the U.S. Is Building A Military Airport In Northeastern Syria, But The U.S. Is Denying The Story

Region: Reports claim the U.S. has launched an expansion of an airstrip near Rmeilan, which it is claimed would help it to better support the Kurdish rebels who are fighting ISIS in the northeastern region of Syria

Daily Mail: US officials deny ‘taking control’ of an airfield in northern Syria after satellite pictures show a derelict landing strip doubling in size to take cargo planes

* Images taken by security analysts Stratfor appear to show expansion work
* Would make Rmeilan, in the north east, the first US-owned airstrip in Syria
* Strategic airstrip is near borders with Iraq and Turkey and several oil bases
* It would allow the US to further support Kurdish rebels fighting against ISIS
* But US military CentCom has denied 'taking control of any airfield in Syria'

The U.S. has denied taking control of a formerly derelict airstrip in northeastern Syria, after satellite images appeared to show a massive expansion project underway.

Images released by Texas-based security analyst Stratfor show the runway near the town of Rmeilan, in the Kurdish-controlled province of al-Hasakah, being extended from 700m to 1.3km.

The low-resolution images, taken on December 28, appear to confirm the rumours of U.S. activity in the region, where Kurdish rebels are battling against ISIS.

Read more ....

Update #1: Imagery Supports Claims of U.S. Military Activity in Syria (Stratfor)
Update #2: Syria conflict: 'US expanding air strip' in Kurdish north (BBC)
Update #3: US Expanding Disused Airstrip in Kurdish-Controlled Syria (Sputnik).

WNU Editor: Apparently the Russians are doing the same thing .... U.S. officials: Russia looking at Syria airfield near Turkey (CNN). More here .... Reports: America and Russia setting up bases in Syrian Kurdistan (Rudaw).