Last week’s US missile strikes against Syria have been something of a game-changer in US policy across the region. Nowhere is the concern greater than among the US ground troops stationed in Syria, however, as if the strikes ultimately provoke a retaliation, they’re in the line of fire.
While they’re not offering details on exactly what they’re doing, US officials have confirmed that they have made adjustments since the attacks, seeking to increase the protection of US forces in Syria in case they do come under attack in the course of their operations.
The ground troops are deployed in Syria overwhelming in anti-ISIS operations, and this is the second time in as many days officials have confirmed anti-ISIS operations were changed because of last week’s attack, after confirming yesterday they’d cut back on airstrikes against ISIS for fear of coming under attack from Syrian air defense.
At this point, retaliation appears unlikely unless the US launches further attacks, with Russia making it clear that any future attacks are a “red line” for them. US officials continue to talk up potential justifications for such strikes, however, which might mean they’re hoping they can call Russia’s bluff, assuming it is a bluff.
Oh, there ARE US trooops in Syria?
Russian suspension/cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Prevention of Flight Safety Incidents, has probably more to do with the cutback to U.S. air ops. Its generally not safe for the U.S. to fly blind in Syria. This in turn would reduce air support and surveillance for U.S. troops in Syria.
While odds of retaliation from Syria or Russia upon American ground positions are pretty much zero, the Syrian Arab Army is taking shots at U.S. recon aircraft scoping them out. For the obvious reason that they fully expect to be attacked again.
The real threat is probably America’s own Syrian Defense Force allies. While the Kurds are nominally trustworthy, the so-called DAESH rebels allied with them are likely not and other DAESH likely wouldn’t hesitate to kill or capture U.S. troops given half a chance. The more of them that are there and exposed, the more likelihood of an anti-American incident.
Coincidentally, such an incident would only affirm the ‘need’ to remain in Syria and only the rudeness of CIA assets killing actual Pentagon troops is deterring such an incident from the more-or-less controlled DAESH.
The U.S. will have to deal with Syria’s president on his terms or face a real war. They aren’t going to force balkanization and occupation on Syria without heavy losses, and quite possibly, open humiliation.
MAD has saved us for over 70 years. Now you have elected a psychopath as your president and all bets are off.
And to give it momentum, the christians are out in force with their sky fairy imaginings to cheer it along.
STOP SAYING RUSSIA HAS TALKED OF A “RED LINE”. THEY HAVE NOT!
The statement produced the other day by some unknown organization claiming to represent Russia, Iran, Syria and Hizballlah IS NOT KNOWN to either Russia or Iran. Russia has distanced itself from that statement explicitly.
Southfront report on the matter clearly identified that the statement was NOT an OFFICIAL statement by either Russia or Iran. The Duran has also proved this, as did Russia Insider.
Antiwar.com needs to check their facts before repeating this hoax.