On Tuesday, media were speculating about what would happen if US and Russian forces had a confrontation in Syria. Early Wednesday, an incident happened on the road near Dayrick, where US and Russian vehicles collided, injuring four US soldiers.
Reports are that a US Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All-Terrain Vehicle was blocking a road when a Russian MRAP convoy tried to pass. A video of the incident showed one fairly minor-looking collision.
Details are still emerging. No Russian casualties were reported, and four US soldiers were reported to have mild, concussion-like symptoms. US officials described the collision as a “side-swiping,” though the video showed very little contact.
US officials suggested Russia violated deescalation protocols. Russia has largely not commented on the matter publicly. With both forces active in northeastern Syria, there is always a risk of confrontations like that.
Sounds like 4 US soldiers are going for early disability retirement…..good thinking.
Are you implying that our lovable, huggable troops aren’t always being forthright in their injury claims? Blasphemous!!
Wacky races Russian style
concussions? from that? I was hit riding my motorcycle 50 mph and didn’t get a concussion. that’s weak.
Concussions are finicky and severity of a single impact not always a good indicator.
Also, soldiers tend to be under pressure to keep quiet about minor injuries. Unfortunately, concussion is prabaly still regarded as a minor injury to tough out.
Concussions can occur from cumulative impacts as well, and driving on bad bumpy roads or off-road could cause and certainly magnify the issue.
Its possible those soldiers had pre-existing trauma, and the collision forced them to finally report injuries.
A longer video of the confrontation. US forces appear to be blocking a road and then attempt to block the path of the Russian patrol when they drive through the field. An American MaxxPro MRAP appears to collide with a Russian Typhoon-K MRAP. 319/
https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1298624477014765572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1298624477014765572%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsputniknews.com%2Fmiddleeast%2F202008261080286863-us-national-security-council-official-confirms-collision-between-us-russian-forces-in-syria%2F
Bunch of lunatics, too many Mad Max movies….
leave Syria—amerikans r in Syria illegally
Rough ride. Wonder how good the cup holders are in an MRAP….
The collision may have been more serious than the video indicates. Military armoured vehicles don’t crumple and absorb impact like civilian vehicles.
Soldiers have survived IEDs in armoured vehicles, but the shock can still inflict immediate and cumulative concussions.
Of course, there is really no point denying injuries. The real point is — there was a notification of patrol, and deliberate attempt at blocking. It is not too complicated. Russia presumably being “deep” into deconflict zone is a dead giveaway. US is trying to own deconflict zone, and not honor the agreement in notification. These games around Hassakah are transparent. But Syrian army is already there and Russian patrol is patrolling the zone to prevent any militants infiltrating, giving more excuse for US to hang around Iraqi birder area.
There must be some political reasons for hanging out there, as militarily it makes zero sense. Hanging around for hanging sake — or is it to keep a corridor between Iraqi and Turkish PKK. And thus the need to have control of deconflict zones, so no pesky Russian patrol can run across some unsanctioned transport.
One theory, keeping troops on the border let’s you obfuscate actual troop numbers in either country.
Meh. Just hazing each other, in macho military fashion. They’ve turned it into a driving game. Mad Max, as Sullivan observed, or Fast and Furious for today’s kids.
Morale is a little more difficult for the U.S. troops, given that they can’t justify being in Syria.
However, pushing that aside and focusing on the mission turns that tension almost into a bonus; driven by denial.
The US is lying as usual.
Russian Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov spoke with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley about the recent incident with the US troops and Russian military police in Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry said Thursday.
“Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov drew the US side’s attention to the fact that the commanders of the International antiterrorist coalition were notified about the passage of the Russian military in accordance with the existing rules,” the ministry said in a statement.
Gerasimov told Milley the US servicemen, in breach of the existing agreements, attempted to block the Russian patrol, which “took every step necessary to prevent the incident and proceed with its mission.”
According to the ministry, the US received a full explanation on the incident.
Looks like G.I. Joe on the ground makes his own rules.
“US officials suggested Russia violated deescalation protocols”
An unwelcomed guest blaming a welcomed guest.
The US troops seem to be concussion-prone.
The USA is still to blame. The Russians are in Syria because the Syrian Government has asked for their presence. The USA was not only never invited, but now they are stealing their oil.
Says a lot that we get the film from Russia , and not the US. Security secrets don’t ya know.
Good comments. The US vehicles appear to deliberately intrude into the Russian convoy to make trouble. Same day that a US spy plane harasses a Chinese offshore naval exercise. Days after US police encourage rightwingers to murder peaceful protestors in Wisconsin. So the US right wing is being asked to create military incidents in election season.