Pentagon: US Has 2,000 Troops in Syria, Not 900 as Previously Stated

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The US Defense Department confirmed Thursday that there are actually around 2,000 American troops currently deployed in Syria, rather than the previously stated figure of around 900, MediaLine reports. The updated information follows the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamic insurgent group on December 1.

During a press briefing Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said he had only just learned there are more troops in Syria than had been announced. “As you know, we have been briefing you regularly that there are approximately 900 US troops deployed to Syria,” Ryder said. “In light of the situation in Syria and the significant interest, we recently learned that those numbers were higher, and so asked to look into it. I learned today that in fact there are approximately 2,000 US troops in Syria.”

“As I understand it and as it was explained to me, these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that deploy to meet shifting mission requirements, whereas the core 900 deployers are on longer-term deployments,” Ryder continued.

“Part of the explanation is the sensitivity from a diplomatic and operational security standpoint,” Ryder added. “Given the difference in what we’ve been briefing and what the actual number is, I just felt that it was important to get you that information.”

A delegation of US government officials is set to meet with the interim Syrian government led by HTS in Damascus on Friday, CNN reports. The US officials intend to “discuss transition principles endorsed by the United States and regional partners in Aqaba, Jordan,” a State Department spokesperson said.

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