Two American military officials confirmed that Pentagon is planning on sending tanks and other heavy military equipment to Syria in order to protect oil fields from ISIS and Iranian influence.

On Thursday, a few hours before this announcement, Senator Lindsey Graham told Reuters: “Pentagon is developing a plan for Syria. The goal of the plan is to prevent the revival of ISIS and the control of oil fields by Iran.”

One Defense Department official said the US forces will cooperate with Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria in order to prevent the revival of ISIS and Iran’s control over oil fields.

An unnamed source told Fox News that possibly hundreds of American forces will be deployed to northeast Syria.

President Trump tweeted on Thursday night that he has had a conversation with General Mazloum Abdi, a commander of Kurdish forces in northern Syria, and he has thanked the US for its role in the region.

Trump tweeted: “I really enjoyed my conversation with General Mazloum Abdi. He appreciates what we have done, and I appreciate what the Kurds have done. Perhaps it is time for the Kurds to start heading to the Oil Region!

The announcement comes only two days after the agreement between Turkey and Syria over creating a safe buffer zone in the north of Syria.

According to the agreement, Russian forces will position themselves 30 km away from the border with Turkey inside Syria and Kurdish forces must evacuate northern Syria completely.