The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the number of United States Defense Department personnel stationed in Syria is more than double the previously reported amount.
General Pat Ryder informed reporters during his regular briefing that 2,000 soldiers and contractors are currently deployed to the war-torn country, a considerable increase from the officially disclosed count of 900.
“This number is significantly higher than what we've been briefing; I wanted to let you know as soon as I found out this information,” Ryder explained, noting he had learned of the actual figures shortly before his press conference.
Ryder described the additional units as “temporary rotational forces” tasked with addressing emerging mission requirements for “the core 900” in their long-standing operation against Islamic State fighters in the region.
This disclosure comes after White House statements confirming the U.S. military will remain in Syria, even following the December 8 overthrow of Ba'athist dictator Bashar al-Assad by a coalition of insurgent groups led by the former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Since the fall of Assad's administration, Israel, Turkey, and the U.S. have conducted combat maneuvers in various locations in the Middle Eastern nation, despite the formation of an interim government.
When asked how long the revised total had been at its current level, Ryder did not provide a specific timeline but stated, “My understanding is it's been for a while. So clearly before the fall of the Assad regime.”
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