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During the presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that under Joe Biden, no American troops were in a war zone, a comment that surprised those stationed in Syria.
Troops in a combat zone watching Kamala say there are no troops in combat zones: pic.twitter.com/7EPTW90YnX
— Good Morning Liberty (@GoodAMLiberty) September 13, 2024
Now, as investigations have revealed Biden is often not cognizant enough to handle military matters, the Pentagon has revealed that not only do we have troops in Syria, the number is much higher than previously thought. Military officials this week has revealed that the number of U.S. troops in Syria is about 2,000—more than double the previously reported count of 900. This updated figure, shared by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on Thursday, reflects a deployment that predates the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
During a briefing, Ryder explained that he only recently became aware of the increased troop presence. While he did not specify exactly when the numbers rose, he confirmed the adjustment occurred “well before Assad’s fall” and has likely been consistent for several months, according to a report from NBC News.
Ryder did not say when the number of U.S. personnel had increased. He said he had learned Thursday that the number has been significantly higher for some time.
“I don’t have a specific date to provide,” Ryder said, referring to the timing of the increase.
“My understanding is it’s been for a while, so clearly before the fall of the Assad regime,” he said, adding, “At a minimum months.”
“It’s been going on for a while,” he said.
The additional troops are primarily involved in countering ISIS and preventing its resurgence in the region. Ryder characterized them as largely Army personnel but refrained from detailing their specific roles.
The announcement has raised concerns about transparency. An anonymous defense official suggested the troop count may have been understated for years, possibly as part of an effort to obscure the extent of the U.S. mission in Syria. Ryder declined to directly address these allegations.
Currently, the U.S. presence in Syria comprises 900 troops on long-term assignments of nine to twelve months, along with 1,100 personnel rotating in for shorter missions lasting 30 to 90 days.
Ryder emphasized that the troop numbers are unrelated to recent events, including the fall of Assad’s regime or the ongoing search for Austin Tice, an American journalist abducted in Syria in 2012. Instead, the deployment remains focused on combating ISIS.
When asked why the new numbers were being shared at this time, Ryder cited his recent discovery of the information and the importance of public awareness. “It’s crucial to provide accurate updates, especially given the attention on Syria,” he stated.
Following the collapse of the Assad government, Israel and Turkey have initiated military operations in Syria. Meanwhile, the United States has carried out numerous strikes against Islamic State targets in an effort to prevent the militant group from exploiting the rapidly changing circumstances.
The issue of American boots on the ground in Syria has something of a history, noted The New York Times. “In 2019, President Donald J. Trump ordered all U.S. troops in Syria to return home, in an effort to end the American mission there. Pentagon officials balked, and Gen. Mark A. Milley, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked Mr. Trump into allowing a limited number of troops to remain to safeguard oil fields, Mr. Trump said.
The Pentagon has said that the troops in Syria are scattered among several bases, including al-Tanf, on the Syria-Iraq border, and in northeast Syria. U.S. and partner forces in a coalition that includes the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have been working to keep pressure on Islamic State militants and to ensure that fighters who are detained do not end up back on the battlefield.”
[Read More: Biden Is Not Always There]
