The U.S. military is preparing to deploy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in the northeastern Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition revealed on October 31.
Col. Myles B. Caggins III posted several photos on Twitter showing M2A2 Bradley IFVs being loaded into military cargo planes to be sent to Syria.
.@USArmy troops in 4-118th Infantry Regiment, @30thabct, @NCNationalGuard attached to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, @SCNationalGuard, load M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to support the @CJTFOIR mission in Deir ez Zor, Syria. #DefeatDaesh pic.twitter.com/ZbFsvIemRW
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) October 31, 2019
Earlier this month, an official in the Pentagon told Newsweek that the U.S. is seeking to deploy a half of an U.S. Army armored brigade combat team battalion alongside personnel to key oil fields in northeastern Syria. Newsweek’s report was confirmed by the Pentagon on October 25.
Prior to that, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that U.S. troops are being withdrawn from the region “as safely and quickly as possible.”
Now it looks like Washington is on its way to increase its troops in Syria. This raises serious questions about the initial withdrawal order, which facilitated a Turkish-led attack on the northeastern region of the war-torn country.
