The Pentagon said Thursday that it has 2,000 troops in Syria. This figure is more than double what he had previously stated, of 900 soldiers.
According to the Pentagon, the additional troops are considered temporary and that they were sent to support the mission against Islamic State militants, reports A2.
Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told reporters that he did not know how long the number had been at 2,000, but added that it was probably several months before the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
" I learned this number myself today. As someone who has stood before you and said 900, I wanted you to know the number we have on this issue ," said Mr. Ryder.
The United States had said publicly for several years that it had 900 troops in Syria, working with local forces to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State, which in 2014 overran large parts of Iraq and Syria but had managed to recoil.
The administration of President Joe Biden has said that US troops will remain in Syria, however President-elect Donald Trump may remove them after he takes office on January 20. / Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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