U.S. officials have quadrupled the number of American forces in Syria to aid in the fight against ISIS, the Pentagon revealed in a surprising revelation Thursday. This increase predates the overthrow of Bashar al Assad’s regime earlier this month.
At the Pentagon briefing, Defense Department Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder stated that although the U.S. military and U.S. Central Command have repeatedly stated that they only had 900 troops in Syria, the United States actually has about 2,000 people there.
Ryder did not specify when the U.S. military had grown. He claimed to have discovered today that the figure has been much higher for a while.
Regarding the timing of the hike, Ryder stated, “I don’t have a specific date to provide.” According to what I gather, it’s been at least months, so obviously before the Assad regime fell, he added.
Ryder continued, “It’s been going on for a while.”
According to Ryder, the rise was neither a reaction to the recent overthrow of the Assad government or the hunt for Austin Tice, an American journalist who was abducted in Syria in 2012.
According to Ryder, the goal of the extra American soldiers is to defeat ISIS and stop it from reorganizing. However, he refused to elaborate on the exact actions of the U.S. personnel, stating only that they are primarily Army men.
The number of American forces in Syria may have been much larger than the Pentagon has said for years, according to a defense officer who wished to remain anonymous. They suggested that the actual number of American forces in the nation might have been purposefully concealed.
According to Ryder, 900 personnel in Syria are part of a core force that is deployed for longer periods of time, usually nine to twelve months. Another 1,100 soldiers have been temporarily stationed in Syria for periods of 30 to 90 days.
When asked repeatedly why he had only now revealed the higher figure, Ryder reaffirmed that he had just recently became aware of it. Ryder stated that he felt obliged to reveal the accurate figure because of the high level of interest in Syria.
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