[45], On 16 April 2020, a number of Syrian rebels at al-Tanf base defected to the Syrian government in a convoy. But the mission is also impossible insofar that new ISIS fighters are still being recruited, and the US military alone simply cannot address whats much more than a military problem. Contractors often are used to help with maintenance and logistical support. [63], On 28 April, 2 SDF fighters were killed and 3 others were wounded by an IED explosion on the road between Raqqa and Al-Hazimah village in the Raqqa countryside. (ISISs rise was a spillover effect of the now-20-year-old US invasion of Iraq, and compounded by the effects of the Syrian civil war). [4][58] According to a 24 March report by the U.S. government-funded Voice of America, the U.S.-backed Revolutionary Commando Army rebel group, which maintains aid access and provides security for the Rukban camp, said both refugees and U.S.-backed rebels in the zone depended on U.S. protection against attacks by pro-Syrian government militias and Islamic State-affiliated jihadists. The Biden administration has relied, in my view, very problematically on its claimed inherent constitutional authority, says Katherine Ebright of the Brennan Center. Another set of strikes bombed a major drug factory operated by Iran-backed militant groups in Daraa governorate. The U.S.-backed New Syrian Army rebel faction captured the al-Tanf post on the Syrian side of the border in early March 2016, and in early August, the al-Waleed checkpoint on the Iraqi side of the border was recaptured by pro-government Iraqi tribal militias backed by U.S.-led forces. [60], On 24 April, 3 militiamen working as part of the IRGC were killed after ISIS militants, on a motorcycle, opened fire on the group in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside. U.S. troops are resuming operations after a pause in the wake of Turkey's. Reader support helps keep our explainers free for all. At a certain point, 83 episodes starts to sound like a trend. Three U.S. service members were injured in two separate rocket attacks on facilities housing U.S. troops in Syria, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. [35], The United States reported a drone attack in the vicinity of the al-Tanf base on the night of 15 August 2022. June 16, 2023 01:07. . [66][67], On 4 May, as part of increasing tensions and clashes in Idlib and north-western Syria, HTS executed an ex-fighter after accusing him of spying. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. So she asked Milley about why the conflict doesnt merit more congressional oversight. Regular patrols [25], On 17 June 2017, the Iraqi Armed Forces announced that the Iraqi Army and Sunni tribal fighters, supported by U.S.-led Coalition aircraft, had dislodged ISIL from the Iraqi side of al-Waleed border crossing. [57], Between 4 and 6 April, 9 Liwa al-Quds militiamen were killed in attacks by ISIS insurgents in the Homs/Palmyra part Syrian desert[58], On 9 April, at least 9 civilians were killed after their vehicle hit a landmine in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. We successfully pushed ISIS out of the territory it once held, but there are still ISIS members in Iraq and Syria, and we have more work to do.. Inside, an airstrip used for transporting soldiers and military supplies, divides the facility into two spaces, one of which is exclusively occupied by American soldiers. [30][31], On 20 October 2021, the base was attacked by drones, causing no injuries. [27], On 2 February, Turkish defence minister, Hulusi Akar announced the defence ministries of Turkey, Syrian and Russia will hold a meeting in Moscow to try and agree to a rapprochement and normalisation of relations between Syria and Turkey.[28]. by Geoff LaMear "Out with the new, in with the old" appears to be the doctrine for U.S. policy in Syria in 2023. [1] The latest incident came just a day after a militia drone strike killed a U.S. contractor, injured five American service members and wounded one other contractor in Syria, the Defense Department . 4 fighters of the Manbij Military Council were killed by a Turkish drone strike in Manbij. May 11, 2023 | Kevin Maurer Explosions flashed in the fog hanging over the Euphrates River like a coming summer storm. USA TODAY. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. More broadly this. April. Julio Hernandez/Army). [49], On 26 March, 4 civilians were killed and others were abducted in an ISIS attack on workers in the Shaer gas field area in the Palmyra desert. One of the deadliest flare-ups between the U.S. and Iran-backed groups occurred in December 2019, when U.S. military strikes in Iraq and Syria killed 25 fighters and wounded others from the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah Iraqi militia. [42], On 7 September 2018, United States Central Command announced an Operation Inherent Resolve live fire exercise around the al-Tanf garrison, named Operation Apex Teufelhunden. [30], On the evening of 11 February, at least 75 people were abducted by ISIS in the Palmyra desert in the western Homs countryside. The number of reported casualties varied, and the U.S. would not confirm any numbers. Obviously if we stay behind these walls, we won't truly understand the severity of what's going on. [26], At the end of December 2017, the chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov said that the U.S. garrison at al-Tanf was fully isolated by Syrian government forces following the desert offensive in the area. Support our mission by making a gift today. Belarus says Prigozhin has arrived after weekend mutiny in Russia, First female Silent Drill Platoon commander on breaking barriers, Controversial game launches and a pioneering Marine | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.24.23, Chinese Navy stops in Manila as part of South China Sea goodwill tour, Craigslist founder pledges $100 million to military and veterans charities, Air Force flyovers around US celebrate 100 years of air refueling, Corps loosens up-or-out policy for enlisted Marines. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Its untenable.. As long as the U.S.-led global coalition remains committed to its anti-IS effort, American troops say they will continue their mission to bring stability to northeast Syria. You should be thinking of the operational security of the troops who are committed to these missions, with this in mind you should understand why the names. The strike on Thursday by a small, suicide drone set off a series of retaliatory bombings, and the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Erik Kurilla, quickly warned that the U.S. was prepared to launch more attacks if needed. A member of the Times staff since 1983, he has shared four Pulitzer Prizes. Iran has also provided drones to Russia for use in its ongoing war in Ukraine. Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said later on Tuesday that the Chinook had a problem with one rotor that caused a hard landing during takeoff.. One service member at Mission Support . Answer (1 of 15): It is not the custom of military organizations to publish or provide to the public a list of troops serving on deployments. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb and Abby Sewell in Beirut and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. One American contractor was killed, and five U.S. service members and another contractor were wounded. [6][7][8] One stated goal was to create "safe zones" along Turkey's border with Syria, according to a statement by Turkish President Erdoan. [99][97], On 25 June, 4 Syrian GID officers were killed and another was seriously injured after insurgents ambushed their vehicle between Tafs and Daraa city.[100]. al-Qaeda is not responsible for ISIS's actions." The United States alleges that Belarus has provided or attempted to provide . Answer (1 of 49): a) The US military presence in Syria is no longer a strategic asset; This is a vulnerability. The code has been copied to your clipboard. Bidens team initially reviewed its Syria policy, though its difficult to parse out any shifts. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. In response, Biden ordered strikes against three targets connected to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who then retaliated further the next day. Will you support Voxs explanatory journalism? He emphasized that Iran wants to push the US out of Syria and said the mission is worthwhile. On March 23, an Iranian-backed group sent a drone to a US-led coalition base near the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah. Eric Schmitt is a senior writer who has traveled the world covering terrorism and national security. Washington carried out the initial strikes after the Pentagon said a US contractor died - and another contractor and five military personnel were wounded - by a drone "of Iranian origin" that. Air Force Brig. A U.S. soldier walking during a dismounted patrol, Syria, Feb. 3, 2023. A Wagner ex-convict returned home from war. The SDF captured the last sliver of land from IS in March 2019, marking the defeat on the battlefield of the extremist group that once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq. It remained unclear if special operations units in the region had actually adopted the computerized optic or if the training was part of field trials or another type of demonstration. The three military officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing inquiry, said on Tuesday that an MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying the commandos had gone down in apparently good weather and without taking hostile fire. In late June, VOA gained rare access to the U.S. military facility guarded by Kurdish fighters affiliated with a local military force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has been a major U.S. partner in the fight against IS, also known as ISIS and Daesh. In a March hearing, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) asked about the need for a formal authorization from Congress permitting US troops there. But they are still in harms way, and its not something Congress has approved. [23][24] Shortly thereafter, Syrian government forces were reported to continue their advance in a direction the government forces appeared to use advanced Russian-made weapons and were supported by Russian helicopters, according to a report acknowledged on May 26 by the Russian Defence Ministrys media outlet. In northeast Syria on Sunday, 22 US soldiers from an elite commando unit were injured in a helicopter's "hard landing" due to a technical issue, according to the Pentagon. Al-Tanf (Arabic: , romanized:al-Tanf), also known as the Al-Tanf garrison (ATG),[3] is a United States military base within territory controlled by the Syrian opposition in Homs Governorate, Syria. US troops are there under a 2001 authorization of military force that Congress passed in the days after the September 11 attacks to counter al-Qaeda. A U.S. soldier sits in an armored vehicle in Manbij, northern Syria, in 2018. In 2019, President Donald Trump announced that the US would withdraw from Syria. U.S. officials blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, multiple intelligence threat streams and the fact that the attack was so similar to previous ones by the militants. [59], On 10 April, 4 Liwa al Quds militiamen were killed and another was injured after ISIS fighters attacked a Syrian Army checkpoint near [23], On 23 January, forces of the Syrian Army's 17th Division found the bodies of 9 dead militiamen of the Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun militia, that fights for the Syrian government, in the desert near Al-Masrab. [73], On 22 May, the Syrian foreign minister Faisal Mekdad announced there would be no normalisation with Turkey until Turkish soldiers left Syria. [86], On the same day, ISIS militants fired a rocket at a military checkpoint near an Iranian military base in the al-Mayadeen desert, killing 5 Pro-Assad fighters. The Wagner mercenary group came within 200 kilometers of Moscow . [97], On 18 June, as part of a recent increase of insurgent activity in Homs, an IED exploded targeting a Syrian military bus near Al-Mushrifah, killing 3 Syrian soldiers and injuring another 10. The raid killed Hamza al-Homsi, a senior ISIS leader. That tit-for-tat shows that Syria is where all of the USs muddled policies toward the Middle East collide. For years, the U.S. and its coalition allies battled IS in Iraq and Syria, partnering with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Credit: Anja Niedringhaus /AP Reuters Jun 13, 2023 Twenty-two U.S. service members were injured in a helicopter "mishap" in northeast Syria on Sunday, the U.S. military said late on Monday, without disclosing the cause of the incident or detailing the severity of the injuries. EXPLAINER News | Syria's War Why does the US still have forces in Syria? The oil-rich Deir el-Zour province in eastern Syria, where some of the latest U.S. strikes hit, sits along that strategic route. We have a defeat ISIS mission," but nevertheless acknowledged that American presence in the area had "an indirect effect on some malign activities that Iran and their various proxies and surrogates would like to pursue down here. [60] Amid a period of heightened regional tensions with Iran, the Pentagon announced on 18 June that another 1,000 troops will be deployed to the Middle East, presumably including the U.S. base in Syrian al-Tanf. The US has no intent to withdraw in the near future, the senior Pentagon official told me. Casualties of the Syrian civil war Doctors and medical staff treating injured rebel fighters and civilians in Aleppo Estimates of the total number of deaths in the Syrian Civil War, by opposition activist groups, vary between 503,064 and about 613,407 as of March 2023. Those 300 troops have been working with the SDF in fighting ISIS in northern and eastern Syria. The rapprochement occurred amid a diplomatic push by the Assad government to normalize relations with regional governments that began in February 2023. He is without question a war criminal, and is effectively being welcomed back into the Arab government fold. The Pentagon said the attacks were meant to send a message to Iran, which the U.S. blamed for a number of drone attacks, including one thattargeted the al-Tanf garrison. [56], On 4 April, 2 civilians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus. [32], On 24 February, a senior Iraqi militant of Hurras al-Din and another individual were killed in a Coalition airstrike in the village of Mashhad Ruhin in Idlib. SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - A Summerville family is remembering a U.S. contractor who was killed in a drone attack last month at a coalition base in northeastern Syria. By Raja Abdulrahim. The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war for 2023. [47][48], On the same day, at least 15 people, including 7 civilians and 8 Syrian soldiers, were captured and executed by having their throats slit after ISIS militants attacked them whilst they were collecting truffle in the Hama desert. [45][46], On 23 March, 19 people, including 16 Iranian-backed militiamen and 3 Syrian soldiers, were killed in a set of American airstrikes in the city of Deir ez-Zor and the towns of Mayadin and Abu Kemal. U.S. troops conduct regular patrol missions in northeast Syria, in coordination with their local SDF partners. Google Pay. Meanwhile, more than a decade since he brutalized peaceful protests against his regime and officiated over the countrys ongoing civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is still in power. Tensions boiled over on Friday after Prigozhin said his Wagner mercenaries would lead a "march of justice" against the Russian army.
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