syria deployment 2023

He may yet want to redirect some forces into a foreign deployment. EXPLAINER News | Syria's War Why does the US still have forces in Syria? Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. The bulk of the Russian tanks and artillery were destroyed, and hundreds of Syrian and Russian fighters were believed killed. If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a The Pentagon has estimated eight militants were killed during retaliatory U.S. air strikes against two Iran-linked facilities in Syria during the tit-for-tat exchanges triggered by the first March 23 attack against a U.S. base near the Syrian city of Hasaka. While Islamic State is a shadow of the group that ruled over a third of Syria and Iraq in a Caliphate declared in 2014, hundreds of fighters are still camped in desolate areas where neither the U.S.-led coalition nor the Syrian army, with support from Russia and Iranian-backed militias, exert full control. The HIMARS deployment coincides with another U.S. deployment in the Persian Gulf. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of That base was also hit in January, when three suicide drones struck, wounding two Syrian opposition fighters. browser. The move comes as the Navy, like most of the other military branches, struggles to meet its recruiting goals for the year. Julio Hernandez/Army). We also REUTERS/Phil Stewart. 1238(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, P.L. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. While there is risk, as the horrific Manbij bombing makes clear, the benefits of a small U.S. force, supporting a partner-led effort to keep CT pressure on ISIS, are clear and compelling. Dec 16, 2021 U.S. soldiers conduct convoy operations in northeastern Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve on Sept. 27, 2020. . "Over time, I do envision us transitioning when the conditions are met, where our partners can independently have a sustainable capacity and capability to keep ISIS in check," he said. Arab-majority areas, with elements already resentful of the Kurdish-dominant SDF, would become increasingly de-stabilized, providing further oxygen for ISIS. The move notably came after U.S. had fired on Iran-backed forces to prevent them from approaching the base. President Joe Biden warned Iran last week that the United States would act forcefully to protect Americans. The Marine M777s fired so many artillery rounds at ISIS during that months-long offensive that they burned out two barrels. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. March 4, 2023 NORTHEAST SYRIA By day, First Lt. Kamal Alsawafy is providing security for Iraqi refugees as they move from the crowded Al Hol detention camp here to transportation back to Iraq. These include Syrias largest natural gas and oil fields (Shaer, al-Mahr, Jazar, and Jihar), where some reports indicate that Wagner has used a shell company called Evro Polis to receive up to a quarter of the production profits. News, analysis, and ideas driving the future of U.S. defense: straight to your inbox. to learn more. 2021 will be a defining year for Syria. News of the deployment came a day after the Pentagon doubled its tally of the number of American troops wounded in last week's attacks in Syria to 12, following the diagnosis of six U.S. military personnel with traumatic brain injuries. U.S. officials believe drone and rocket attacks are being directed by Iran-backed militia, a reminder of the complex geopolitics of Syria where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad counts on support from Iran and Russia and sees U.S. troops as occupiers. "Over time, I do envision us transitioning when the conditions are met, where our partners can independently have a sustainable capacity and capability to keep ISIS in check," he said. President Joe Biden warned Iran last week that the United States would act forcefully to protect Americans. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. The Army saw a drop in suicides last year, but the issue remains a devas ting problem for the force. Asked by reporters traveling with him if he believed the Syria deployment of roughly 900 U.S. troops to Syria was worth the risk, Milley tied the mission to the security of the United States and its allies, saying: "If you think that that's important, then the answer is 'Yes.'". That base was also hit in January, when three suicide drones struck, wounding two Syrian opposition fighters. The president has made clear that he has no interest in continuing the so-called forever wars that were part of the national psyche for the first 20 years of this century. It was nearly freezing that Syrian night. All rights reserved. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. According to U.S. officials in 2018, their Russian counterparts denied involvement in the battle and, during emergency discussions as the fighting raged, assented to the use of American air power on the scene. He also attended a war games session for Ukrainian military officers in Germany. On Saturday, Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made his first visit to Syria in that role, traveling to this Kurdish-controlled territory to assess the state of Americas nearly eight-year-old military mission. U.S. forces provide military training to members of the PKK group and the YPG militia in the Al-Malikiyah district in Syria's Al-Hasakah province on September 7, 2022. His M4 Carbine strapped to his side, he is a member of a Michigan National Guard unit deployed to try to prevent the revival of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The US Army Can Be the Joint Force's Contact Layer in the Pacific, Do Not Sell My For now, as Moscow figures out what to do with the mercenaries footprint, a kind of tacit status quo remains in place in Syria. But with the Biden administrations focus shifting to Russias invasion of Ukraine and a potential future conflict with China, the counter-Islamic State military mission in Syria has become something of a back-burner issue. (Video: Reuters), Essential reporting from around the world, The battle in Syria that looms behind Wagners rebellion. Syrian government forces and allied Iran-backed groups are deployed on the west bank of the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour, while American troops support their allies, the SDF, largely along the east bank. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Has reported from over two dozen countries to include Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of the Middle East, Asia and Europe. information. "I happen to think that's important," Milley said. News of the deployment came a day after the Pentagon doubled its tally of the number of American troops wounded in last week's attacks in Syria to 12, following the diagnosis of six U.S. military personnel with traumatic brain injuries. Iran has also provided drones to Russia for use in its ongoing war in Ukraine. In most recent cases, no U.S. forces have been hurt in such attacks. In February 2018, the American Special Forces team deployed to Syria as part of the ongoing campaign against ISIS that began in 2015. One American contractor was killed, and five U.S. service members and another contractor were wounded. The apparent loss of dozens of Wagner fighters in a single night in Syria allegedly infuriated Prigozhin, who earlier this month put out his account of the 2018 events on the social media platform Telegram. We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by If the U.S. were to withdraw, this low-intensity but necessary effort against ISIS would likely fall apart, and relatively quickly. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has decided to extend the deployment of the George H.W. He is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence and the Joe Galloway Award. Should Turkey invadewithout the brakes a U.S. military presence would entail, including diplomatic pushback against such plans and the likelihood of intense negotiations with an angered Washingtonthe SDF would likely collapse. Prigozhin was allowed to leave for exile in Belarus, but it appears the Kremlin may be moving to defang the mercenary company it allowed to thrive. Israel has also struck Iranian targets in eastern Syria, although it rarely claims responsibility. Russias Ukraine war builds on tactics it used in Syria, experts say. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Thousands of other Islamic State fighters are in detention facilities guarded by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, America's key ally in the country. His brother described him as a farmer with no involvement with armed groups. Three drones targeted a U.S. base in January in Syria's Al-Tanf region. cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. The decision likely means the Bush strike group and its more than 5,000 U.S. forces, which are now in the European Command operational area, will not be returning to home port in the United States on schedule. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. This may impact the Still, the United States has formally prioritized in its national security policies Russia, Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific above the Middle East after two decades of U.S. intervention in the region during its global war against terrorism. U.S. officials blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, multiple intelligence threat streams and the fact that the attack was so similar to previous ones by the militants. It is worth assessing whether that presence remains useful, given the risks and costs, and in light of the threat currently posed by the terror group. Since the U.S. deployed a limited number of ground troops to northeast Syria to help the SDF against ISIS in 2015, it has seldom deployed heavy weapons, instead relying primarily on airstrikes to support SDF offensives. McFarlane cited progress against Islamic State, including through the reduction in the numbers of internally displaced people at refugee camps -- a pool of vulnerable people who could be recruited by Islamic State. Israel has also struck Iranian targets in eastern Syria, although it rarely claims responsibility. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. "We need to look at what do we want in Syria, what our long-term . Instead, U.S. air power entered the fray and presided over a stunning slaughter. Help us tailor content specifically for you: Get all our news and commentary in your inbox at 6 a.m. FILE PHOTO: The USS George H.W. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Colonel Joe Buccino confirmed the carrier group's extension, which was first reported by Reuters. U.S. Special Forces, led by Civil Affairs teams, helped the SDF restore local governance and security as displaced Syrian civilians returned to their homes and tried to rebuild lives in heavily damaged communities. On the contrary, those forces represent diplomatic leverage in the discussions to come over the future of Syria. On a hard-dirt landing strip near the northeastern city of Kobani, I waited with two long lines of U.S. Special Forces soldiers behind a huge C-17 aircraft, its mighty engines temporarily stilled. Military pay will see a 4.6% increase for 2023 compared to . It would certainly stop fighting ISIS. The U.S. denied involvement, and an Israeli military official later strongly suggested that Israel was behind the strike. Buccino also noted a scheduled, expedited deployment of a squadron of A-10 attack aircraft to the region. While Islamic State is a shadow of the group that ruled over a third of Syria and Iraq in a Caliphate declared in 2014, hundreds of fighters are still camped in desolate areas where neither the U.S.-led coalition nor the Syrian army, with support from Russia and Iranian-backed militias, exert full control. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. Phil Stewart has reported from more than 60 countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and South Sudan. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. The SDFs motivated, disciplined forces supplied the man- and woman-power that physically confronted ISIS, defeating them in hard-fought campaigns in Kobane, Manbij, Raqqa, and Deir a-Zour province. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. But the mission, which former President Donald Trump nearly ended in 2018 before softening his withdrawal plans, is remnant of the larger global war against terrorism that had included once the war in Afghanistan and a far larger U.S. military deployment to Iraq. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. America still has more than 900 troops, and hundreds more contractors, in Syria, working with Kurdish fighters to make sure there is no resurgence of the Islamic State, which was ostensibly defeated as a caliphate in 2019, after five years of wreaking havoc across Iraq and Syria. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly However, it has also maintained the right to defend itself and retaliate against attacks by other groups, such as the Iran-backed militias that have targeted U.S. troops with rockets and explosive drones. They are trying to prevent any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. U.S. Central Command launched an official investigation into a May 3 drone strike in Syria that may have resulted in the death of a civilian, the combatant command confirmed to Military Times. Bush carrier strike group to provide options to policymakers after last week's deadly attacks in Syria by Iran-backed forces, U.S. military officials said on Friday. In retaliation, U.S. F-15 fighter jets from al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck locations near Deir el-Zour, targeting the Iran-backed militias believed responsible for the attack. The single bloodiest clash between U.S. and Russian forces since the Cold War took place in early February 2018. Bush aircraft carrier is seen anchored off Stokes Bay in the Solent, Britain, July 27, 2017. So troops at the U.S. garrison can disrupt what could be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the eastern Mediterranean. Since the defeat of the Islamic State group, Iran-backed fighters have expanded their influence in the region. In August 2022, the U.S. carried out strikes targeting Iran-backed militias in Deir el-Zour province. Somalia and Syria (as of January 1, 2004) Note: For the Philippines only, the personnel must be deployed in conjunction with Operation Enduring Freedom supporting military operations in the Afghanistan combat zone. Such instability would also almost certainly jeopardize the substantial humanitarian assistance programs and early recovery projects that help Syrians return to their homes and provide food and shelter for the millions of displaced. Why bring up this episode from five years ago? In the depths of the Syrian night, near the dusty banks of the Euphrates River, a small force of U.S. Marines and Green Berets found themselves besieged by a larger contingent of pro-Syrian regime forces, including a significant detachment of Russian mercenaries. U.S. officials blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, multiple intelligence threat streams and the fact that the attack was so similar to previous ones by the militants. The Pentagon said the attacks were meant to send a message to Iran, which the U.S. blamed for a number of drone attacks, including one thattargeted the al-Tanf garrison. Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. The tiny U.S. military footprint, and associated financial costs, are negligible, compared to the gargantuan deployment and investment made in Afghanistan over the past decade, or to the costs that the U.S. would incur if it were forced to take on a fully reconstituted ISIS. Mar 18, 2022 An Iraqi soldier zeros his rifle during marksmanship training with coalition forces. A small U.S. military presence is critical in this effort to maintain pressure on ISIS. In an apparent response to those U.S. airstrikes, 10 rockets were fired Friday at a U.S. base known as Green Village. A U.S. soldier sits in an armored vehicle in Manbij, northern Syria, in 2018. President Joe Biden pledged a path forward albeit a longer path for student loan debt cancellation after the Supreme Court struck down his original plan. "There's also an indirect deterrence in that the U.S. is showing it's willing to send a high-value asset to Syria to demonstrate to Russia and the Syrian government that the harassment tactics against the United States are not causing the United States to draw down forces," Bohl told me. He is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence and the Joe Galloway Award. The son of Iraqi refugees who emigrated to the United States, Alsawafy said helping Iraqi refugees brings him joy and described watching people at al-Hol cheering as Iraqis departed the camps for better lives back in Iraq. Established in 2016 at the intersection of the country's borders with Jordan and Iraq, al-Tanf Garrison (ATG) is home to more than a hundred U.S. service members. But while SDF forces, both Kurdish and Arab, suffered some 10,000 deaths in the fight against ISIS, U.S. combat fatalities have been fewer than a dozen over a seven-year deployment. The HIMARS has a significantly longer range than those M777s, which were hitherto the longest range system the U.S. deployed in the battle against ISIS in Syria. "The extension of the George HW Bush Carrier Strike Group, inclusive of the USS Leyte Gulf, the USS Delbert D. Black, and the USNS Arctic, allows options to potentially bolster the capabilities of CENTCOM to respond to a range of contingencies in the Middle East," Buccino said in a statement. The base is used to continue operations against the Islamic . A husband was committed to a psych ward. NEXT STORY: In August 2022, the U.S. carried out strikes targeting Iran-backed militias in Deir el-Zour province. (Sgt. A company of some 300 to 500 pro-Syrian regime troops advanced on the refinery, equipped with heavy weapons including armored vehicles and tanks. Helene Cooper is a Pentagon correspondent. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. April. Hedil Amir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, To Escape Bullies, Military Forced to Move Families with LGBTQ+ Kids, Overheating F-35s May Get Service-Specific Cooling Upgrades, Likely Hiking Cost, Marines Will Restructure Infantry Battalions by September. Published 4:22 PM PDT, March 24, 2023 WASHINGTON (AP) When an Iranian drone struck a U.S. base in northeastern Syria, killing a contractor and wounding several U.S. troops, it was just the latest in a growing number of attacks on American forces in Syria. American troops have been in Syria since 2015, but the latest casualties highlight what has been a consistent, but often quiet, U.S. counterterrorism mission, aimed at countering Iranian-backed militias and preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State group. information by using this toggle switch. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb and Abby Sewell in Beirut and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. BAGHDAD, Iraq - On June 1, 2023, Coalition service members will be conducting ground and aerial operational exercises in or near the al-Hasakah and Darbasiyah regions in Syria to validate weapons systems and maintain crew. The main mission of the United States military in Syria is combating the infamous Islamic State group there. Following the February 2023 earthquakes in Syria and Trkiye, NGOs and international organizations reported increased vulnerability to sex trafficking, forced labor, and recruitment or use of children by armed groups - including already vulnerable populations such as IDPs in Syria, Syrian refugees in Trkiye, and unaccompanied and separated . Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The man reportedly killed was Lutfi Hassan Masto, according to The Associated Press. Three drones targeted a U.S. base in January in Syria's Al-Tanf region. Thousands of other Islamic State fighters are in detention facilities guarded by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, America's key ally in the country. CENTCOMs Brig. In November 2022, airstrikes targeted tanker trucks that crossed from Iraq into eastern Syria. Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies, Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the language preference or login information. Since the defeat of the Islamic State group, Iran-backed fighters have expanded their influence in the region. [1/2]U.S. Joint Chiefs Chair Army General Mark Milley speaks with U.S. forces in Syria during an unannounced visit, at a U.S. military base in Northeast Syria, March 4, 2023. technologies for the following purposes: We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to For example, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is located on a vital road that can link Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israels doorstep. services we are able to offer. Finally, our presence also blocks Russian consolidation of its military mission in Syria, undercutting one of the key sources of Moscows surprisingly resilient prestige in the region and hence lending support to our Ukraine policy efforts. Then he committed his wife. American officials say that Islamic State could still regenerate into a major threat. All rights reserved. He arrived in Syria in December, but promised Dearborn residents that he would continue to fulfill his council duties from abroad. She was previously an editor, diplomatic correspondent and White House correspondent, and was part of the team awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, for its coverage of the Ebola epidemic. 48.9% outside this plan. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and Because we do not track you across different devices, Kurilla told Congress that Tehran is building increasingly sophisticated drones, and now has an arsenal that ranges from small, short-range systems to long-range one-way attack platforms.. Our military presence does not raise these humanitarian issues. $2.11bn. So troops at the U.S. garrison can disrupt what could be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the eastern Mediterranean. "At the moment, there doesn't seem to be a strong will for the United States to expand its military mission in Syria beyond what it currently is. 51.1% funded through this plan. "The review of the allegations of a civilian casualty from the U.S. Central Command May 3, 2023, strike in Syria has transitioned to an AR 15-6 investigation," Maj. John Moore, a CENTCOM .

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