Baladi News - Exclusive
Reporting by: Mohammad Othman
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is digging trenches north and east of Raqqa, in preparation for establishing a French military base, Baladi News correspondent reported.
Dozens of vehicles belonging to SDF are digging a trench from the "brigade 17" north of the city to the area (Sahlet al-Banat) northeast the city center, and another trench north of the city. After the drilling process, the trenches are being surrounded by sand barriers, Baladi News correspondent added.
"We met leaders of the SDF and some officers of the International Coalition, where they instructed us on how to dig the trenches with regard to depth and width," a worker in the project told Baladi correspondent.
"We started digging 45 days ago, and we will finish in one month of time," he added.
"This place will be a base for the French troops, which aim is to protect the city of Raqqa," a military source asserted to Baladi News.
The same source added that talks are being held between the International Coalition and SDF on establishing a U.S. military base in the airport of Tabaqa west of Raqqa early next year.
Russian Foreign Minister "Sergey Lavrov" said few days ago that U.S. is trying through the Syrian Democratic Forces to use the lands of East Euphrates, to create a quasi-state entity.
It's worth noting that the U.S. which leads the international coalition against Daesh, backs the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the Kurdish units in the eastern Euphrates.
Earlier this month, the so-called "Syrian Democratic Council", the political arm of SDF, announced the formation of a federal government to administer these regions.