But coming one week after an American special operator was killed in a Kurdish-led raid in Iraq, the decision raised a host of questions, from what authority the U.S.is relying on to send troops into Syria to which groups the U.S.is helping and how the action will be perceived by the U.S.’s Turkish allies, who are opposed to the Syrian Kurdish militia that has been the primary ally in Syria against the Islamic State.
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In Washington, USA officials said the small special forces contingent in Syria would work with local “moderate rebel” groups to fight against Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and that it should not be considered a combat mission.
It will be the first time United States troops are working openly on the ground in Syria.
Announcing the measure on Friday, the White House said the troops would be on a mission to “train, advise and assist” and would number fewer than 50.
Despite United States president Barack Obama previously vowing that he would not send special forces to work on the ground in Syria, up to 50 troops will go to the warzone. “American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq, but we will help Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region and American interests as well”.
And now there really are “boots on the ground”.
It was not clear whether the USA government would ensure that there was no accidental exchange of fire between the US forces and Turkey, which said this week that its forces have bombed YPG units trying to cross the Euphrates River.
The stepped-up US military involvement in Syria also comes amid a redoubling of diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution to the multi-year conflict between the Syrian government and rebel forces, which ISIS has exploited to expand its base in the country.
The decision by Obama, deeply averse to committing troops to unpopular wars in the Middle East, would mark the first sustained USA troop presence in Syria and raise the risk of American casualties, although US officials stressed the forces were not meant to engage in front-line combat. They could also join Syrian and Kurdish forces on raids if they get explicit permission from Washington.
In another shift in the USA in recent months, no longer is Washington insisting on Mr Assad’s immediate departure. The US recently dropped 50 tons of ammunition to Arab groups fighting IS, and officials said more ammunition and possibly small firearms could be provided over time.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Vienna that the decision to deploy special forces would make cooperation between USA and Russian armed forces even more important.
They said the troops would not be near any locations being bombed by the Russians, but a senior defense official did not rule out the possibility of talking with Moscow if it becomes necessary in order to guarantee the safety of the USA troops.
Later, in an exchange with reporters after he spoke to troops at Fort Wainwright, Carter was asked whether the USA objective is to retake Raqqa or just put pressure on the city. So far, there are indications that they have begun to use the airdropped ammunition against ISIS forces.
“Only America can convene Sunni forces from what I believe needs to be a combined Sunni force of Egyptians, Saudis, Jordanians, Sunnis in Iraq, Sunnis in Syria to confront a radical Sunni movement and defeat them militarily”.
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The special operations forces will be focused on Northern Syria, the official said.
