US increases its military contingent in Syria: Ministry of Defense names reason
US troops confront Islamists in Syria (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The US has more than doubled the number of its troops in Syria. The additional forces have been there for several months and are being used to combat the Islamic State group, states Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder.
According to the spokesperson, the Pentagon had been asked repeatedly about the US presence in Syria following the chaotic ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. However, the Pentagon had not disclosed information about the increased troop numbers and continued to maintain a figure of 900.
In light of the current situation in the country, he requested clarification on the data and confirmed that there are currently about 2,000 US troops in Syria.
The spokesperson noted that the additional forces have been in Syria for at least several months and that this deployment has been ongoing for some time. He emphasized that this increase was not linked to the removal of Assad or an increase in attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) or against it.
"I will also highlight that, again as it was explained to me, these forces, which augment the Defeat ISIS Mission, were there before the fall of the Assad regime," said Ryder.
The major general also explained the secrecy surrounding the troop numbers as being due to diplomatic considerations and added that he does not track any future adjustments to the force size.
There have long been disagreements between the US, Türkiye, and Iraq regarding the permanent presence of American troops in Syria and the necessity to maintain them at a certain level.
However, the situation may change, as newly elected President Donald Trump has stated that he does not support the expansion of the US military presence in Syria.
US influence in Syria
At the beginning of December, fighters from the Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham captured key Syrian cities, including the capital Damascus, marking the end of the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
The US acknowledged that they had been in direct contact with the rebels during this operation.
Current President Joe Biden praised the fall of Assad's regime, calling it a fundamental act of justice.
Meanwhile, newly elected US President Donald Trump opposes involvement in the events in Syria, as the country is not a partner of Washington.
On December 8, US military forces carried out airstrikes on Islamic State camps in Syria. The strike aimed to prevent the Islamists from taking advantage of Assad's regime's fall and regaining control over central areas of the country.
