From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 31, 2019
US armored vehicles in Syria to guard oil fields
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleThe US military says its first batch of mechanized armored vehicles have arrived in southeast Syria, where they are to take part in securing oil fields and fighting remnants of the Islamic State group.
US-led Coalition spokesman Col. Myles Caggins said the first batch of Bradley armored infantry carriers are arriving in Deir el-Zour Province. The province is home to some of Syria’s largest oil fields. It is also where Islamic State jihadists continue to wage an insurgency and where they lost their last territory in March.
Caggins says the mechanized forces — being deployed for the first time in Syria— provides infantry with maneuverability and firepower. He said the deployment is “de-conflicted” with other forces operating in the region.
US troops have begun withdrawing from northern Syria to reposition in the Deir el-Zour region, he says.
US President Donald Trump ordered the troop withdrawal from the north ahead of a Turkish military offensive there earlier this month. Turkey is pushing to have Kurdish fighters moved away from its borders.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.