The determination by President Barack Obama, which might deepen the U.S. position in Syria’s battle, goals to defend a still-fledging group of Syrian fighters armed and educated by the United States to battle Islamic State militants – not forces loyal to Assad. This is the first time the US has intervened directly in the four-year old Syrian civil war.
Advertisement
APA reports quoting The Wall Street Journal that U.S. officials said the decision ended a monthslong debate over the role the American military should play in supporting its few allies on the battlefield in Syria.
Russia on Monday criticized U.S. plans to provide air cover for Syrian rebels, saying any support for rivals of Russian ally President Assad hampered Damascus’ fight against Islamic State. Administration officials had been deeply concerned that defending the Pentagon-backed force could inadvertently open the first open conflict with the Assad government, which has denounced the U.S. program. “But when attacked, we’ll defend them towards anybody who’s attacking them”, a senior U.S. army official advised the Journal.
“We won’t get into the specifics of our rules of engagement, but have said all along that we would take the steps necessary to ensure that these forces could successfully carry out their mission”, said Baskey”.
The 72 hours of clashes killed at least 73 rebels and 42 regime forces, including Hezbollah fighters and members of the National Defense Forces militia allied with the government, he told AFP.
Advertisement
The U.S. has thus far downplayed the concept Assad’s forces would launch an offensive towards the Syrian rebels.
