The EU’s Misguided Decision To Lift Syrian Oil Embargo - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2013/05/eu-decision-lift-oil-embargo-misguided-syria-war.html
At the beginning of this month, to support the opposition, the EU decided to lift the oil embargo on Syria. Although the decision looked favorable on paper for the opposition, it quickly became clear that it was a disastrous step that would cause the situation to spin further out of control.
Syria’s oil wells are in located in the Deir al-Zour and Hassakeh regions, close to the Iraqi border. Deir al-Zour is controlled by Sunni tribes while the PYD controls Hassakeh. The pro-al-Qaeda Jabhat al-Nusra has been increasing its domination of the Deir al-Zour region.
We know that Jabhat al-Nusra is clashing with tribes for control of the oil wells. The latest such clash was at Masrib, causing 37 fatalities.
The EU’s decision to buy oil from the opposition triggered battles over oil wells, contributed to the further fragmentation of the opposition, and resulted in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) being helpless in face of tribal leaders who are rapidly becoming warlords.