US seeks to eliminate independent nations in Mideast

“The political strategy that’s currently being pursued by Israel, by Saudi Arabia and by the United States….involves eliminating independent governments in the Middle East,” Keith Preston said.

Preston made the remarks when asked about a report that shows the United States is engaged in a military campaign to cut off Syria from its neighbors with the aim of weakening the "resistance axis."

Syria is seeing itself further encircled by the American presence on its borders with Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, Beirut-based al-Akhbar paper reported on Thursday. 

Preston said, “The strategy of cutting off Syria from its neighbors is intended for the purpose of weakening any kind of resistance that is taking place.”

The resistance in the region includes “Iran, Iraq, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine, the Houthi in Yemen and some other forces,” he added.

According to the newspaper, the US, along with Britain, seeks to cut off Lebanon from Syria by establishing observation posts and gaining influence within Lebanese border units.

American forces are also seeking to embolden their control over the Jordan-Syria-Iraq border and the occupied Syrian al-Tanf region by setting up fortifications and barbed wire fences.

The US already has two bases north of Jordan and is seeking to build a new base northwest of the country.

Despite Syrian and allied military presence on the Syria-Iraq border, the US presence north and south of the region, along with increased Daesh activity in the desert, have hampered the establishment of a reliable eastern corridor.