President Ilham Aliyev shares key messages in Washington interview
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to a select group of Azerbaijani journalists in Washington on August 8, includi...
The Pentagon revealed on Thursday (December 19) that the actual number of U.S. troops currently stationed in Syria stands at approximately 2,000, more than double the publicly acknowledged figure of 900.
The additional personnel, described as temporary forces, have reportedly been deployed to support missions targeting the remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder addressed the discrepancy during a briefing, explaining that the previously undisclosed increase stemmed from temporary deployments and the rotation of troops.
"It's not uncommon for these numbers to fluctuate as units rotate in and out. But given the current situation in Syria, I was recently made aware that the numbers were significantly higher than the approximate 900 we had been reporting," Ryder said.
The core group of approximately 900 troops represents long-term deployments of 9 to 12 months, according to Ryder. In contrast, the temporary forces, typically on rotations of 30 to 90 days, are brought in to address emerging mission needs associated with the fight against ISIS.
He declined to provide a breakdown between conventional and special operations forces but emphasized that all deployed personnel are focused on defeating ISIS.
Ryder noted that part of the mission also involves ensuring diplomatic and operational security in the region. The discrepancy in troop numbers prompted a review, with Ryder stating, "Given the difference in the numbers we've been providing, I made the decision to disclose the updated figure."
When pressed about how long the higher troop levels have been in place, Ryder admitted he could not pinpoint an exact timeline but suggested it had been ongoing for months, predating the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The revelation echoes similar cases in the past where troop numbers in active deployment zones were underreported, raising questions about transparency in U.S. military operations abroad.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
According to Bloomberg News, the United States and Russia are working toward an agreement aimed at halting the war in Ukraine by formalizing Russia’s occupation of territories seized during its invasion.
A fire broke out at Cordoba’s historic mosque-cathedral on the night of 8 August but was swiftly extinguished, preventing damage to one of Spain’s most treasured architectural landmarks.
The Canadian government announced Friday it will join key allies in reducing the price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in response to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Washington, D.C., will see its federal security funding reduced by $20 million this year under a Trump administration plan, despite the president’s repeated claims that crime in the capital is spiraling.
U.S. President Donald Trump personally welcomed Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at the White House today, ahead of a historic peace signing ceremony. The meeting sets the stage for a U.S.-brokered framework aiming to stabilize relations in the South Caucasus.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment