The Syrian army announced in a statement published by SANA that the armed forces advancing from the eastern countryside of Idlib met other advancing troops in the southern direction of Aleppo, and regained control of 600 square kilometres. The General Command of the Army announced in a statement that “the Syrian armed forces have realised qualitative field achievements. The advanced forces from eastern Idlib countryside met the advanced forces from the direction of southern Aleppo countryside, regaining control of a geographical area of more than 600 square kilometres and tightening control over dozens of towns, villages and the principle hills.” The statement added that “units of our armed forces in the Idlib and Aleppo provinces have continued progressing on the ground to eliminate terrorist organisations that have increased their attacks against safe civilians and used them as human shields.” The statement continued that the liberated villages, towns and principle hills are “Khan Al-Sabl, Kafr Battikh, Jawbas, Nayrab, Tell Mardikh, Kafr Amim, Ages, Saraqib, Tal Al-Tabariz, Maharim, Ebla University, Rasm, Al-Eiss, Sheikh Ahmed, Zammar, Hawir Al-Eiss, Tell Bagir, Rasm Al-Sahrij, Tel Touqan, Jazaraya, Khan Tuman, Khalsa, Al-Qarasi, Zaytan, Sheikh Idris, Al Rayyan, Louf, Al-Eiss. Anadolu Agency reported that the United States is establishing new military bases in Hasaka governorate to consolidate its presence in the oil-rich regions in north-eastern Syria. The news agency said in a report, based on sources it described as “reliable”, that the US “hastily” started building a base in the village of Tal Barak, 40 km from the city of Al-Hasakah. As part of the construction work, the US forces moved, last week, machinery and construction equipment from Iraq to Tal Barak through Al-Waleed border crossing. The news agency added that the US military hoisted their country’s flag in the middle of Tal Barak, while the US military helicopters carried out reconnaissance flights over the area designated for the establishment of the base. The news agency quoted its sources saying that construction work has continued in the northern part of Tal Barak since 3 February. The report pointed out that the US army’s goal for building this base is to cut the road for the Russian military to one of the most important oil production centres in Syria, namely the Rumailan oil field in the north-eastern countryside of Al-Hasakah. In parallel, the US forces, stationed in Deir ez-Zor, started converting a building in Ghweran neighbourhood, Al-Hasakah, into a military site, to control oil production in Deir ez-Zor. In another context, the Turkish army sent additional reinforcements, on Sunday, to checkpoints in Idlib governorate. Thus, a fleet of new reinforcements, including tanks and ammunition, has arrived in Reyhanli district in the border governorate of Hatay.