US troops in Syria: number doubles-what is behind it?

US troops in Syria: number doubles-what is behind it?

In Syria, the US Department of Defense drastically increased the number of American soldiers. Around 2,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in the country, which is a significant correction of the previously specified number of 900. These troops are mainly used for the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS), but many are in a rotating system, which means that they are only on site for a limited period of time. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, explained that the increased number of soldiers has been in Syria for some time and that the discrepancy has only now been noticed, such as Euskirchen reported.

political tensions increasing

In the middle of this military situation, there are increasing disputes between the various actors in Syria who fight for power. A newly forming rebel alliance, led by the Islamist group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham, has recently overthrew long-time President Bashar al-Assad. This change of power leads to the escalation of battles in the region, where allies of Assad collide. These developments raise questions about the stability of the entire country and have potentially serious effects on the already tense geopolitical conditions in the region. As Der SPIEGEL , the battles between the different groups are intensive and show how fragile the current situation in Syria is.