Damascus, July 12 (RHC)-- Syrian government forces have blocked three U.S. military convoys as they tried to pass through the country’s northeastern province of Hasakah, amid lingering public resentment over the deployment of occupying American troops in the regions.

According to a report published by Syria’s official news agency SANA, the U.S. forces' convoys had to turn around and head back in the directions they came from after Syrian army troops intercepted them in the villages of al-Sibat, Tal Shamiran and Mansaf Tahtani.  

No injuries were reported and there was no immediate comment from the U.S. military.

The development took place only a day after a U.S. convoy of three armored vehicles returned to its base when Syrian soldiers intercepted it in Mansaf Tahtani village, which lies in the Tal Tamr district of the same Syrian province, and did not allow it to move ahead. There have  been no reports of injuries in that encounter.

Since late October 2019, the United States has been redeploying troops to the oil fields controlled by Kurdish forces in eastern Syria, in a reversal of President Donald Trump’s earlier order to withdraw all troops from the Arab country.

The Pentagon claims the move aims to “protect” the fields and facilities from possible attacks by Daesh.  That claim came although Donald Trump had earlier suggested that Washington sought economic interests in controlling the oil fields.

The presence of U.S. forces in eastern Syria has particularly irked the civilians, and local residents have on several occasions stopped American military convoys entering the region.

Syria, which has not authorized the presence of the U.S. military in its territory, says Washington is “plundering” the country’s oil.