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Syria conflict: 'US expanding air strip' in Kurdish north Syria conflict: 'US expanding air strip' in Kurdish north
(35 minutes later)
Satellite images appearing to show the US expanding a formerly disused air strip in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria have been seen by the BBC.Satellite images appearing to show the US expanding a formerly disused air strip in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria have been seen by the BBC.
The image, from the security analysts Stratfor, shows a runway near the town of Rmeilan being extended from 700m (half a mile) to 1.3km.The image, from the security analysts Stratfor, shows a runway near the town of Rmeilan being extended from 700m (half a mile) to 1.3km.
That would be long enough to land a Hercules aircraft.That would be long enough to land a Hercules aircraft.
BBC Arabic security correspondent Murad Shishani says it could be a new US move against the so-called Islamic State.BBC Arabic security correspondent Murad Shishani says it could be a new US move against the so-called Islamic State.
Battle for Iraq and Syria in mapsBattle for Iraq and Syria in maps
Where key countries standWhere key countries stand
Rumours of US military activity in the area have been circulating for weeks, Stratfor says.Rumours of US military activity in the area have been circulating for weeks, Stratfor says.
Rmeilan is in Hassakeh province in north-east Syria.Rmeilan is in Hassakeh province in north-east Syria.
Access to a longer runway would enable the US to land transport planes such as Hercules in Syria's north-east, enabling it to drop off weapons supplies to Kurdish forces in the area, instead of depending on airdrops.
A US-led coalition of of Western and Middle Eastern countries began air strikes against IS in Iraq in August 2014 and in Syria a month later.A US-led coalition of of Western and Middle Eastern countries began air strikes against IS in Iraq in August 2014 and in Syria a month later.
Turkey has allowed the US to use its Incirlik airbase, in the south of the country, near north-west Syria.Turkey has allowed the US to use its Incirlik airbase, in the south of the country, near north-west Syria.
Russia began carrying out its own air strikes in Syria in September 2015 after a request from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Russia began carrying out its own air strikes in Syria in September 2015 after a request from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He has clung on to power despite more than four years of civil war. Russia has an airbase at Latakia, in western Syria.He has clung on to power despite more than four years of civil war. Russia has an airbase at Latakia, in western Syria.