says the Pentagon There are 2,000 American troops deployed in Syria, more than double what Defense Department officials have told reporters for months.
“We have regularly informed you of the presence of approximately 900 American soldiers deployed in Syria,” said Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Ryder told reporters during a press conference on Thursday. He added: “In light of the situation in Syria, interestingly, we recently learned that these numbers were higher.”
Ryder asked to look at the numbers and said he learned Thursday there were about 2,000 American forces in Syria.
He continued, “He explained to me that these additional forces are temporary rotational forces deployed to meet changing mission requirements, while the 900 core forces are on long-term deployments.” “As you know, for many of our deployments, the numbers will fluctuate from time to time, but since this number is much higher than what we've been briefed on, I wanted to let you know, as soon as I know that information.”
Pentagon Press Secretary General Pat Ryder told reporters that the number of US troops in Syria is more than double what was previously reported. (Live broadcast from the Pentagon)
The main spokesman said that there are diplomatic and operational security considerations regarding deployments and the numbers of forces associated with these deployments, as was the case with Syria.
Ryder noted that the troops were in Syria before the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — who fled to Russia earlier this month and ended a nearly 14-year struggle to maintain power in his country — and helping further defeat ISIS's mission.
After learning about the fluctuations in… Number of troopsFox News Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin pressed Rader about correcting the troop numbers and timing.
An American group searches for kidnapped Americans in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime
People wave rifles in the air as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square on December 8 in Damascus, Syria. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
“That's more than double the number of troops we've been told for some time. So, are we talking about this being going on for months? For years?” Griffin asked. “Did this just happen this summer? We need a time frame.”
“Yes, I think it's probably fair to say at least months,” Ryder said. “I'll go back and look. But…yeah, it's been happening for a while.”
News of sending additional forces to Syria comes at a time of exceptionally increased interest in the region, especially after the fall of Assad.
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – MAY 03, 2023: Then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, during the signing of the comprehensive program for strategic and long-term cooperation between Iran and Syria, on May 03, 2023, in Damascus, Syria. (Burna News/Matin Ghasemi/Axonline ATPImages/Getty Images)
The Turkish army's attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces have increased since the Syrian president fled to Russia on December 8. In an interview with Fox News this month, General Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, warned that if Kurdish fighters had to flee… ISIS will return.
He also said that half of his fighters guarding ISIS camps had to withdraw.
Brigadier General Mazloum said: “All the prisons are still under our control, but the prisons and camps are in a critical situation because who is guarding them? They are leaving and they must protect their families.” “I can give you one example like the ISIS prison in Raqqa, which holds about 1,000 prisoners Former ISIS fighters. “The number of guards there has been reduced by half, which puts them in a vulnerable position.”
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Fox News previously reported that the United States has 900 troops in eastern Syria, but that number is now about 2,000, and they are likely to withdraw if allied Kurdish fighters withdraw under attack by the Turkish army, which considers the Kurds a terrorist threat.
