The US military announced Friday that it had deployed heavy armor in northeastern Syria, after several incidents pitting US forces against the Russian army in this region where Washington now maintains a limited presence.
US Army Central Command in the Middle East (Centcom)
"deployed Sentinel radar, increased the frequency of air patrols over areas controlled by US forces, and deployed Bradley fighting vehicles"
in this controlled area by the United States and its Kurdish allies, Centcom spokesman Commander Bill Urban said in a statement.
The Bradleys withdrew from this area last year, on the decision of US President Donald Trump, who tried in early 2019 to recall all US troops in Syria, before agreeing to leave a few hundred to be there. keep the oil wells.
According to an American official who requested anonymity, the number of armored vehicles sent as reinforcements did not exceed half a dozen, and
"less than a hundred"
troops were sent to maneuver them.
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The Centcom spokesperson specified that these measures were intended
"to defend the coalition forces in this area and to ensure that they continue their mission
(...)
without interference"
.
He did not mention Russia but the American official told AFP that it was a
"clear signal sent to Russia to respect the processes of deconfliction in the region, and for Russia and other actors refrain from unprofessional and dangerous acts ”
.
At the end of August, seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle.
Videos posted on Twitter, apparently filmed by witnesses and the Russians themselves, showed Russian armor and helicopters attempting to block American vehicles and then force them out of the area.
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"The United States is not seeking to enter into conflict with any other country in Syria, but it will defend coalition forces if necessary,"
said Commander Urban.
US troops and Russian mercenaries are often in contact in Syria, but clashes have been rare.
The armored vehicles were airborne from a base in Kuwait, anti-jihadist coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said in another statement.