Russian military vehicles and attack helicopters surrounded two U.S. armored cars in a tense confrontation in northeastern Syria Wednesday, leaving U.S. troops injured, according to the White House.
Videos of the confrontation that were shared on Twitter, apparently taken by bystanders and the Russians themselves, appear to show the Russian troop carriers and helicopters trying to box the U.S. vehicles in and then force them from the area, near Dayrick.
Vehicles appear to bump each other, and at one point — possibly at the beginning of the confrontation — one of the helicopters hovers very low over the halted Americans, blasting them with prop wash.
Video of US-Russia troops confrontation in Northern #Syria this week. Politico reporting now that 4 US troops were injured as result: pic.twitter.com/zbEgD5jzgc— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 26, 2020
The White House National Security Council said in a statement that a Russian vehicle struck a U.S. mine-resistant ATV, “causing injuries to the vehicle’s crew.”
There were no details available from the NSC or Pentagon on how many crew were injured and what the extent of the injuries were.
National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said the U.S. vehicles were a security patrol of the anti-Islamic State coalition.
He said the patrol departed the area to de-escalate the situation.
“Unsafe and unprofessional actions like this represent a breach of de-confliction protocols, committed to by the United States and Russia in December 2019,” said Ullyot.
“The coalition and the United States do not seek escalation with any national military forces, but U.S. forces always retain the inherent right and obligation to defend themselves from hostile acts.”
U.S. and Russian troops frequently interact in Syria, but confrontations have been rare.
(c) The Moscow Times
Where was the US back up? I’m sure these two vehicles were not isolated that much from the main group.
Maybe they got lost and ended up in some sort of ambush?
I doubt they got lost, I’m sure US soldiers can read maps.😁
You have no idea what our military is like since Obama took over. Amphibious vehicles drowning in the sea, planes crashing on a monthly basis, friendly fire… RuSSia really got competition in this field. 😂
This is from another article, sounds about right too.
“Brett McGurk, the former US special envoy to the anti-Isis coalition, said on Twitter: “These incidents have been ongoing for months. Trump has apparently never raised the issue in multiple calls with Putin. He leaves our troops to fend for themselves.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/26/us-russia-armoured-car-injuries-soldiers-syria
Brett McGurk… Don’t know your level of german, but the name is a total screamer!!! 😂
Anyway, i agree the guys need more protection. I think the problem is that the US wanted to get out, but left some troops behind. They are too weak now to fully engage the enemy, they only support syrian rebels in their efforts, mainly logistics.