The number of U.S. troops in Syria has doubled, Pentagon discloses

In a surprise announcement, the Pentagon disclosed on Thursday that U.S. officials have doubled the number of American troops in Syria to support the fight against ISIS.

In a surprise announcement, the Defense Department disclosed Thursday that U.S. officials have doubled the number of American troops in Syria to support the fight ISIS, an increase that predates the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime this month. 

The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said at the Pentagon briefing that the U.S. has roughly 2,000 troops deployed in Syria, even though the U.S. military and U.S. Central Command have consistently reported having only 900 troops there. 

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.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/number-us-troops-syria-doubled-pentagon-discloses-rcna184943

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