The Pentagon has revealed that the number of US troops in Syria has more than doubled, now totaling around 2,000 instead of the previously reported 900. In this video, we explore the Pentagon's surprising admission and whether this surge of troops is linked to the recent political upheaval in Syria, particularly the fall of President Bashar Assad's government. With the timing of the deployment raising questions, is this just a coincidence, or is there a larger strategic plan at play? Join us as we dive into the details of this military escalation and its potential implications for US foreign policy in the region.
#USTroops #Syria #Pentagon #MilitarySurge #SyriaConflict #USMilitary #MiddleEast #BasharAssad #USForeignPolicy #SyrianWar #TroopDeployment #MilitaryStrategy #USInSyria #SyriaCrisis #PentagonNews
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#USTroops #Syria #Pentagon #MilitarySurge #SyriaConflict #USMilitary #MiddleEast #BasharAssad #USForeignPolicy #SyrianWar #TroopDeployment #MilitaryStrategy #USInSyria #SyriaCrisis #PentagonNews
Also Read
Syria's Future: Insights from the Arab Spring's Democratic Transitions :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/syrias-future-lessons-from-arab-spring-nations-011-4022149.html?ref=DMDesc
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Confirms Troop Presence in Syrian Buffer Zone for Security Reasons :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/israel-occupation-buffer-zone-syria-security-011-4018801.html?ref=DMDesc
Turkey Reopens Its Embassy in Syria for the First Time Since 2012 Amid Political Changes :: https://www.oneindia.com/international/turkey-reopens-embassy-in-syria-after-2012-011-4015157.html?ref=DMDesc
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NewsTranscript
00:00that in fact there are approximately 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria.
00:04Who are these forces? Is this special operations forces? Are any there in an effort or part of an effort to find Austin Tice?
00:14What assurances can you give to the Kurdish SDF right now that the U.S. isn't planning to pull out or leave?
00:23All right. Good afternoon, everyone.
00:27I've got a fair amount to pass along today.
00:29So I just want to say thanks in advance for your patience.
00:33Lots to talk about. So first, I want to bring up one item.
00:38As you know, we have been briefing you regularly that there are approximately 900 U.S.
00:43troops deployed to Syria. In light of the situation in Syria and the significant interest,
00:49we recently learned that those numbers were higher.
00:53And so asked to look into it, I learned today that in fact there are approximately 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria.
01:02As I understand it, and as it was explained to me,
01:05these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that deploy to meet shifting mission requirements,
01:12whereas the core 900 deployers are on longer term deployments.
01:15And as you know, for many of our deployments, numbers will fluctuate from time to time.
01:21But given that this number is significantly higher than what we've been briefing,
01:26I wanted to let you know as soon as I found out this information.
01:32I will say that there are diplomatic and operational security considerations,
01:38oftentimes with our deployments and some of those numbers and certainly the case here.
01:45But again, given that there is significant interest in Syria, given what we have briefed previously,
01:53I wanted to make sure that you had the most up to date information.
01:57I will also highlight that, again, as it was explained to me,
02:02these forces which augment the defeat ISIS mission were there before the fall of the Assad regime.
02:10And I'll be happy to answer any questions on that when we get to the Q&A.
02:14Can you explain a little more fully, first of all, why we haven't heard this number before?
02:22But secondly, who are these forces? Is this special operations forces?
02:26Are any there in an effort or part of an effort to find Austin Tice?
02:33And I guess I'm just a little confused. You said this was before the fall.
02:38So this isn't in response to unrest and disruptions.
02:45This is in response then to what?
02:48Correct. So again, a couple of things.
02:50So as I highlighted, for deployments, and as you know, having followed these for a while,
02:57it's not uncommon as units come in and go, come in and out, the replacement in place,
03:06transfer of authorities, those kinds of things, there will oftentimes be a bump, right?
03:11So the total number of forces officially deployed to Syria is 900.
03:18So that in and of itself in terms of the additional numbers, as you know, over the years, that can fluctuate.
03:25Obviously, given the current situation in Syria, just very recently I was made aware of the fact that,
03:32hey, maybe there's more forces than just a small number or, you know,
03:37what would normally be considered, you know, around the 900 range.
03:41So we asked to look into it, got those numbers today, significantly higher than the 900,
03:48which is, again, why we wanted to let you know.
03:51Now, those forces, what they've been doing is all focused on the defeat ISIS mission.
03:58And again, that core 900, approximately 900, those are going to be your longer term deployers, right?
04:04Nine to 12 months, as I understand it, versus temporary forces,
04:08which are going to rotate in on a 30 to 90 day basis, again, as it's been explained to me,
04:13that are there to meet any type of emerging mission requirements associated with the defeat ISIS mission.
04:20Predominantly Army forces.
04:23And, you know, I'm not going to be able to provide a breakdown of, you know,
04:28special operations forces, but all of those forces focused on the defeat ISIS mission.
04:34Again, as I understand it, a certain element of this also goes into diplomatic
04:41and operational security concerns as it relates to the region.
04:45But again, given the difference in the number that we've been providing,
04:51we have made the decision, I made the decision, to go ahead and give you that number.
04:59Just so I'm clear, are you suggesting this 1,100 is RIPTOA?
05:06No, I'm not. I'm just saying that traditionally as we track deployments, right,
05:10when we say approximately 900, sometimes that's going to fluctuate up to 1,200, 1,300 as units go in and out.
05:17Obviously, these numbers, the additional numbers, again, as I understand it,
05:23are considered temporary forces that are there to support the de-ISIS mission,
05:28to support the forces that are deployed there longer term.
05:32To include, you know, I'm sure a certain element of that would be RIPTOA,
05:36but a lot of those forces are going to have already been operating there,
05:40you know, coming in and out and doing those kinds of things.
05:42Can you say when? How long ago this happened?
05:45I don't have a specific date to provide, Lita, but my understanding is it's been for a while.
05:50So clearly before the fall of the Assad regime.
05:54So, yeah.
05:56What's a while?
05:57I don't have a number to provide, but again—
06:00I mean, you're talking more than double the number of troops that we've been told for quite some time.
06:04So are we talking about this has been going on for months, for years?
06:08Is it something that just happened this summer?
06:10I mean, we need a time frame, I think, is fair.
06:12Yeah, I think it would probably be fair to say at a minimum months.
06:16I'll go back and look.
06:18But, yeah, it's been going on for a while.
06:22And what assurances can you give to the Kurdish SDF right now
06:28that the U.S. isn't planning to pull out or leave?
06:32Well, right now we have no—
06:35you know, there are no plans to cease the Defeat ISIS mission.
06:40I mean, again, ISIS continues to maintain or to pose a significant threat.
06:45So right now no plans that I'm aware of to stop that mission.
06:49About 500 SDF have left their posts in terms of guarding the ISIS camps.
06:56Are U.S. forces going to take their places?
07:00Well, our focus is, again—
07:02I mean, working with the SDF, but, Jennifer, I don't have anything for you
07:06in terms of relocation of U.S. forces within Syria.