The U.S. military deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Syria on Friday in a multi-faceted effort to fight against ISIS.
Five to six Bradley Fighting Vehicles are being deployed to the region, a U.S. military official told American Military News. Approximately 500 U.S. service members are deployed to the region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Bill Urban said in a statement to American Military News, “The United States has deployed Sentinel radar, increased the frequency of U.S. fighter patrols over U.S. forces, and deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to augment U.S. forces in the Eastern Syria Security Area (ESSA).”
M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles arrive in North East Syria on Sept. 18, 2020 to protect Coalition forces fighting ISIS. (Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve/Released)
Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) released two photos of the vehicles arriving in northeast Syria. The deployment is intended to help protect Coalition forces that are fighting ISIS.
M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles have arrived in North East Syria. The Bradley’s enable continued force protection for @Coalition partners in their ongoing #defeatdaesh mission. pic.twitter.com/5lY1HDwPf7
— Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) September 18, 2020
“These actions are a clear demonstration of U.S. resolve to defend Coalition forces in the ESSA, and to ensure that they are able to continue their Defeat-ISIS mission without interference,” Urban said.
The U.S. has previously deployed Bradley vehicles to Syria to protect forces fighting ISIS.
“The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria, but will defend Coalition forces if necessary,” Urban noted.
OIR spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said that despite the territorial defeat of ISIS, the terror group still poses a threat due to its widespread violent extremist ideology.
“Unless pressure on Daesh [ISIS] is maintained, its reemergence remains a very real possibility,” Marotto said. “CJTF-OIR plans to position mechanized infantry assets, including Bradley Fighting Vehicles, to Syria to ensure the protection of Coalition forces and preserve their freedom of movement so they may continue Defeat Daesh operations safely.”
