US keeps about 900 troops in Syria

SANAA, Jul. 28 (YPA) – President Joe Biden’s administration will keep about 900 military personnel, including Green Berets, to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD),  POLITICO Magazine reported.

Roughly 900 US troops, including a number of Green Berets, will remain in Syria to continue supporting and advising the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State — the same role they have played since the American-led intervention in 2014, according to a senior Biden administration official.

“I don’t anticipate any changes right now to the mission or the footprint in Syria,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans.

“In Syria, we’re supporting Syrian Democratic Forces in their fight against ISIS,” the senior administration official said. “That’s been quite successful, and that’s something that we’ll continue.”

This comes as the US is pulling its troops from Afghanistan, which is expected to be completed by the end of August, and the announcement by Washington and Baghdad on Monday the end of combat missions for US forces in Iraq by the end of this year.

US President Joe Biden has spoken of his quest to end the “eternal wars” of the United States.

US forces are stationed at several bases and points in areas controlled by QSD units in eastern and northeastern Syria, where most of Syria’s oil fields are located.

The Defense Department official confirmed to the site that US forces in Syria and Iraq have not accompanied local forces on any combat patrols in more than a year.

E.M