The White House said the USA special ops forces would number less than 50. “The weapons that we’ve provided thus far, with the ammunition that we’ve provided in our one airdrop that executed, was for the Syrian-Arab coalition”, Col. Steve Warren told reporters via teleconference from Baghdad.
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After liberating parts of Iraq and Syria from ISIL, constraining its freedom of movement, decreasing its finances, slowing its reinforcement of fighters and countering its messaging, we recognize the complexity of the task that still lies ahead, and reaffirm our commitment to work together against ISIL under a multifaceted, long-term strategy.
The United States and its allies targeted Islamic State in Iraq with 14 air strikes on Thursday, and also hit the militant group with nine air strikes in Syria, the USA military said on Friday.
Warren said the US would continue to supply the Syrian Arab Coalition with ammunition, although he did not say when the next airdrop would occur.
“While this is not a large tactical action, we believe the operation demonstrates the viability of our programme to provide support to these forces”, Warren told Pentagon reporters.
The attacks in Syria, near Al Hawl, Al Hasaka and Abu Kamal, struck crude oil collection points and tactical units as well as fighting positions, the statement said. The use of the ammunition dropped has been disputed, but USA officials have said repeatedly that the ammunition did reach the Syrian Arabs, and them alone.
“We have seen that”.
The spokesman said the operation had pitted “well over a thousand friendly forces” against “several hundred enemies” in the vicinity, after heavy U.S. airstrikes had cleared the way.
The Syrian Democratic Forces were formed in mid-October as an alliance between the powerful Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and other Syrian rebel groups.
When asked whether this had quickened the coalition’s own response, Reynders said it wasn’t only Russia’s military action that allowed progress to be made, but also its political action.
The decision by US President Barack Obama, deeply averse to committing troops to unpopular wars in the Middle East, would mark the first sustained USA troop presence in Syria and raises the risk of American casualties.
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While the recent gains are good news for the coalition, it is too soon to say the adjusted Syria plan is “working”, according to Michael O’Hanlon, a defense policy expert with the Brookings Institution, a public policy research group in Washington.
