US Says It Carried out Strike Against ‘Imminent Threat’ in Syria
On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder confirmed a US strike targeting military weapons systems that allegedly 'presented a clear and imminent threat' to US personnel in eastern Syria....
Facts
- On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder confirmed a US strike targeting military weapons systems that allegedly 'presented a clear and imminent threat' to US personnel in eastern Syria.[1]
- Ryder said US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces destroyed multiple weapons systems, including three rocket launchers, a T-64 tank, and mortars.[2]
- The strike was reportedly in reaction to a missile attack near the Military Support Site (MMS) Euphrates, a US outpost in eastern Syria. The Pentagon asserts that the action had no connection to the rebel advance in western Syria.[3][4]
- On Tuesday, the Syrian government accused the US of air support to the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as they advanced into government territory east of the Euphrates. For years, the US has supported the SDF in its fight against the Islamic State (IS).[1]
- Tuesday's strike was the second one in recent days in eastern Syria. According to Ryder, on Nov. 29, US A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft targeted militants readying a rocket attack on an American position.[5]
- The US military has not disclosed who opened fire on American personnel in Syria on Tuesday, but Ryder said there are Iranian-backed armed groups in the area. CENTCOM reaffirmed that the US objective for its 900 troops in Syria remains unchanged, with US and coalition forces focused on the complete destruction of IS.[6][7]
Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]Alarabiya, [3]Google, [4]Voice of America, [5]Air & Space Forces Magazine, [6]Aa and [7]Timesofisrael.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by U.S. Department of Defense. CENTCOM identified a threat to US soldiers and coalition forces in Syria, effectively engaging and destroying numerous weapon systems. Rockets fired from mobile multiple rocket launchers landed near US soldiers, prompting the self-defense strike. The strike was in compliance with the current rules of engagement.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by TASS. Washington is trying to sustain its illegal control over the resource-rich northeastern provinces of Syria. The US and its allies are seizing every opportunity to create instability in Syria by imposing sanctions that damage the country's economy while also supporting former al-Qaeda affiliates. This is a flawed strategy, as these groups often ultimately turn against their patrons.
