The Pentagon claims to have doubled the number of American troops in Syria a few months ago

WASHINGTON (AP) The United States has more than doubled the number of its forces in Syria to fight the Islamic State group, a dramatic increase that the Pentagon revealed Thursday, acknowledging that the additional troops have been there for months or more. 'one year.

The United States has said for years that there are about 900 troops in Syria, but Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, acknowledged there are currently about 2,000.

The Pentagon has repeatedly been questioned about the US presence in Syria following the chaotic overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad on December 8. He did not disclose the increase and instead repeated the figure of 900.

Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, Ryder said the additional forces have been in Syria for at least a few months, and have been for some time. He said he had only just learned of the new figure and that the increase was not linked to Assad's overthrow or any increase in attacks by or against ISIS.

Pentagon officials said they were working to determine the timing of that increase and what exactly the additional forces were doing.

Ryder blamed the secrecy on diplomatic considerations and sensitivities, but declined to be more specific. There has long been friction between the United States and Syria's neighbors, Turkey and Iraq, over the continued presence of American forces in Syria and the need to keep them at a particular level.

And Ryder said he would not pursue any further adjustments to force strengths in the future. That could change, however, as President-elect Donald Trump has said he does not support increased involvement of U.S. forces in Syria.

Ryder told reporters the increase in forces was temporary and that they were there to bolster U.S. operations against the Islamic State group. He said the U.S. military's conventional and special operations forces make up the bulk of the additional troops.

This temporary description, however, belies the fact that troops have been moving in and out of Syria for nearly a decade, and for much of the last year or two their numbers have consistently been higher than the 900 officials who have repeatedly insisted times about their presence. .

There has always been an undisclosed number of U.S. special operations forces deployed to Syria for short periods, but that does not represent the additional 1,100 forces.

Asked if Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin knew the total was so high, Ryder said, “I'm confident the secretary is tracking U.S. forces deployed around the world.” When asked if Austin ordered his team to keep the highest number a secret, Ryder said no. He also said Austin had not spoken about the issue with Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top U.S. general for the Middle East.

Since Assad's overthrow, Israel and Turkey have both launched military operations within Syria's borders, including airstrikes from Tel Aviv against weapons facilities in the east that belonged to the Assad regime and a Turkish offensive in the northeast against Kurdish forces, who have joined the United States in their fight. against the Islamic State.

The United States has also significantly stepped up airstrikes against IS targets in Syria, fearing that a power vacuum would allow the militant group to reconstitute itself.

Until Thursday, the Pentagon had insisted that the strength of U.S. forces in Syria had not changed, even as questions arose about whether the new instability there was jeopardizing the U.S. mission. Ryder said the troop surge had been in place long before the government's overthrow and any increase in airstrikes.

Trump attempted to withdraw his forces from Syria during his first term, prompting former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign in protest. Trump's decision also sparked a broad reaction on Capitol Hill and among his stunned allies. He was convinced to leave American forces in the country to help protect critical oil fields.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos