The Pentagon confirmed yesterday that U.S. forces were indeed in action in Syria. “U.S. Central Command forces successfully destroyed several weapons systems in the vicinity of Military Support Site Euphrates in Syria that included three truck mounted multiple rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and mortars that presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday. “The self-defense strike occurred after the mobile multiple rocket launchers fired rockets that landed in the vicinity of MSS Euphrates and mortars were fired towards U.S. forces. We’re still assessing who is operating these weapons, but do know that there are Iranian backed militia groups in the area that have conducted attacks on MSS Euphrates in the past.”
He also confirmed that Syrian military forces were operating in the area as well but was ambiguous about who was actually targeted by the U.S. strikes. “To be clear, these self-defense actions successfully eliminated imminent threats to U.S. personnel and were not linked to any broader activities in northwest Syria by other groups,” he claimed.
[According to Reuters]([https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/u-backed-group-fights-syrian-121110589.html), the U.S. strikes targeted Iran-backed militia groups supporting Syrian government forces in the region, a security source in eastern Syria and a Syrian army source said. The U.S.-backed, Kudish dominated Syrian Democratic Forces said early on Dec. 3 that its Deir Ezzor Military Council had “become responsible for protecting” seven villages previously held by the Syrian army, the Reuters report continues.
Further, Syrian state media reported that the army and allied forces were repelling an SDF assault on the villages, the only Syrian government presence along the east bank of the Euphrates river, an area otherwise mostly held by the SDF. A Syrian military officer said the SDF push was aimed at exploiting government forces’ weakness after the rebel advance, and said the army and allied Iran-backed militia groups were sending reinforcements.
