The deployment in Syria may represent a broader effort to increase the use of elite US troops in the war on the Islamic State.
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The deployment announced Friday signifies a substantial change in Obama’s policy toward the conflict in Syria, since up to now the president has always opposed having US boots on the ground in that country.
U.S. troops are to be sent to Syria to help train anti-government rebels in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS).
Special Operations troops are set to be deployed to Syria, though the number of boots on the ground will be small and will play a largely “advisory” role.
It would probably be best to phrase this as “fewer than 50 commandos (for now)”, given the way officials including Defense Secretary Ash Carter have been publicly acknowledging an overhaul of our strategy in Iraq and Syria.
Though officially the “first” USA combat casualty was last week in Iraq, officials have privately indicated that several other wounded soldiers, whose names, and details are all heavily classified, were involved in similar special forces combat for months in the lead up to this week’s announcements.
The special operators will comprise the first USA troops put on the ground in the war-torn country – marking a shift in strategy in the fight against IS.
“Imagine the scenario in which American forces are deployed alongside Syrian opposition forces and come into combat with ISIL, who are also being targeted by Russian and Syrian military forces via land and air”, Heinrich wrote.
“I’m concerned that the administration is trying to put in place limited measures – too late – that are not going to make a difference”, he told NBC News.
“There are now moderate opposition forces that are 45 miles (72km) outside Raqqa”, he said.
The USA may also reallocate more American firepower, including Apache helicopter gunships, in hopes it can assist foundering attempts by Iraqi security forces to push militants out of several major cities, including Ramadi and Mosul. They could also help coordinate air strikes from the ground, the officials said.
Agree with putting Special Operations troops into Syria? “That means we want a greater density of planes striking, a greater density of intelligence assets developing targets”, the official said.
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“There are a variety of ways that the United States and our coalition partners can offer our support to those local forces, whether it’s resupplying them or conducting airstrikes in support of their operations on the ground”, he said.
