US occupation forces patrol the countryside of the city of Qamishli in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on April 20, 2022 (AFP)

The United States army has dispatched another convoy of weapons, fuel, and military equipment from Iraq illegally to northeastern Syria, a Syrian military source told Sputnik on Sunday.

"US troops brought a military convoy of 40 trucks with logistical equipment, weapons, ammunition, and tanks loaded with fuel from Iraq to the [Syrian] governorate of al-Hasakah through the al-Waleed border crossing," the source said.

Sputnik had reported on Saturday that a convoy of 43 trucks illegally entered al-Hasakah in Syria, heading toward a US military occupation base in the area.

The US military is continuing to bolster its occupation bases in the al-Hasakah province and other areas in northeastern Syria.

Earlier this month, the US deployed additional Apache helicopters and military equipment to Al-Hasakah, a Syrian military source cited by Sputnik said.

"US forces have reinforced their bases with 15 Apache helicopters to improve their ability to conduct attacks," the source said.

The source told the agency that a US military plane landed at the Kharab Al-Jir base, carrying military equipment, air defense missiles, logistics materials, and 25 service members.

Anticipating the retaliation

This comes as both the United States and "Israel" prepare for the response of Iran and its allies in the Resistance Axis.

Hamas' Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran in July while on an official visit. Less than 12 hours later, "Israel" assassinated Hezbollah's top military leader, Sayyed Mohsen Shokor, in an airstrike on Beirut, which also resulted in the martyrdom of Iranian military advisor Milad Bidi and five civilians - three women and two children. The Israeli regime also conducted an airstrike on Yemen's Ras Kathib power station located in the Hodeidah port, leading to the martyrdom of six civil servants.

Earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of additional naval warships, fighter jets, and anti-ballistic missile defense systems in the Middle East in anticipation of the retaliation.

Last week, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the US fortified its military force posture and capabilities across the Middle East to "defend Israel" and US forces deployed in the region, noting that the US remains "focused on de-escalating tensions in the region, while also postured for deterrence and the defense of Israel."

She also reiterated the US support of "Israel", saying if the occupation is attacked, Washington would come to its defense, giving the example of Operation True Promise on April 14.

Tom Crosson, a Pentagon spokesperson, also revealed that 40,000 US personnel have been deployed in the Middle East amid escalating tensions.

"There are approximately 40,000 US personnel in the US Central Command area of responsibility," when "Routinely, there are approximately 34,000 in the region," according to Crosson.