Alwaght- Hundreds of United States troops have entered Syria without the approval of the government in Damascus.
US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian was quoted on Thursday as saying, "We are talking about an additional 400 or so forces in total, and they will be there for a temporary period."
Dorrian who is the spokesman of a US-led coalition that is reportedly battling ISIS terrorist group has confirmed that the deployment is an addition to the existing 500 US forces already in Syria. He claimed that the US troops in Syria will be involved in an operation to 'defeat' ISIS terrorists in their Syrian stronghold of Raqqa city.
According to the US military official, the additional forces would be working with local partners in Syria – the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which is led by Kurds and the Syrian Arab Coalition.
The news of the US deployment comes after US troops were sighted traveling in an armored convoy near the Syrian city of Manbij, some 100km northwest of Raqqa, a few days ago in Strykers – heavily-armed, eight-wheel armored vehicles.
Raqqa has an estimated 3,000-4,000 ISIS terrorists, but the Takfiri group’s leaders have been rapidly fleeing the city following intensified operations to oust them.
The US illegal incursion into Syria comes months after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had evidence that US-led coalition forces give support to the ISIS and Kurdish groups. Speaking last December, Erdogan said, "Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG, PYD. It is very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos." The US state department dismissed Erdogan's remarks as "ludicrous".
Erdogan issued the statement while the Syrian government accuses him together with rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the US of being among the major backers of the ISIS terrorist group.
