Pentagon says number of US troops in Syria more than doubled prior to Assad’s fall

The United States has more than doubled the number of its forces in Syria to fight the Islamic State group — a dramatic increase that the Pentagon reveals, acknowledging that the added troops have been there for months or even more than a year.

The US had said for years that there were about 900 troops in Syria, but Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, acknowledges there are roughly 2,000 there now.

The Pentagon was asked repeatedly about the US presence in Syria in the wake of the chaotic overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad on December 8. It did not disclose the increase and instead kept repeating the 900 figure.

Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Ryder says the additional forces have been in Syria “at a minimum months — it’s been going on for awhile.” He says he only just learned the new number and that the increase is not related to the ouster of Assad or any hike in attacks either by or against IS.

Pentagon officials say they are working to nail down the timing of the increase and what exactly the additional forces were doing.

Ryder blamed the secrecy on “diplomatic considerations” and sensitivities, but declines to be more specific. There has long been friction between the US and Syria’s neighbors — Turkey and Iraq — about the ongoing presence of American forces in Syria and the need to keep them at a particular level.

And Ryder says he is “not tracking” any additional adjustments to the force numbers in the future. That could change, however, as President-elect Donald Trump has said he does not support US forces getting more involved in Syria.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pentagon-says-number-of-us-troops-in-syria-more-than-doubled-prior-to-assads-fall/