U.S. troops who repelled Russian mercenaries prepare for more attacks

NBC News ^ | Mar 15 2018, 8:20 pm ET | Richard Engel and Kennett Werner

[Texas Fossil]

DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria — Standing on a windswept mound, Brig. Gen. Jonathan Braga pointed to the spot just a mile away from where Russian mercenaries and fighters loyal to the Syrian government fired at his soldiers.

"Those artillery rounds could have landed and killed Americans, and that's why we continue to prepare our defenses," said Braga, the director of operations for the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition. U.S. troops who came under fire from Russian mercenaries prepare for more attacks

Only steps away sits a sprawling oil and gas refinery that American forces captured from ISIS last year and that is just beginning to hum with life again.

Braga's forces repelled the surprise assault from the pro-Bashar al-Assad fighters and the Russian private military contractors. The Feb. 7 clash was the first time in 50 years that Americans and Russians have engaged in direct combat.

[Texas Fossil]

Over a month ago this took place. I'm sure that neither Russia (Putin) or Iran have forgotten what happened. Iran is never mentioned directly.

This is first time I remember NBC reporting from Syria during this conflict.

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[Pining_4_TX]

This is insane. Risk war with Russia over Syria so a bunch of radical Muslims can take over from Assad? Get the US out of there now! Why would our soldiers fight and die for any Muslim group? They are all willing to use us, but then will turn on us at the first opportunity. Islam is the problem, not any one leader or the other.

[PGR88]

War with Russia. Nice.

Clinton and Podesta will be pleased.

[DCBryan1]

Russians, on the offense, almost never make the same mistake twice. Got slaughtered in first Grozny invasion. They stepped back, analyzed, and the when in hard and smart. 2nd time was a massacre for the Chechyns-ten fold.

[WilliamIII]

Why are US troops in Syria? When did we declare war on Assad? I don’t remember the debate and vote in Congress to declare war

[silverleaf]

Gee I wonder who is operating those oilfields and who’s buying the oil?

Hezbollah is pretty much gone from here- pulled west back towards Lebanon and Damascus. Its now the US, some Kurds that havent been pulled home to fight against Turkey, ISIS and other dregs of anti Assad rebel scum

US divsion and occupation of about 20% of Syria and some of Syrias oilfields and a whole lot of desert - is no noble mission. Eventually our troops - trying to recruit and train deserters and jihadists into an anti-Assad army - will again become seen as “ occupiers” and a rallying cause for regional anti-American resistance forces and it will be deja vu all over again

[CondorFlight]

Get ready for major US casualties inflicted at the hands of Russian mercenaries or proxies.

They will pay us back.

And then what?

[Lurker]

Can someone please remind me when Congress authorized the invasion of Syria?

Thanks.

L

[CondorFlight]

(Where’s Jane Fonda when you need her, to protest a war?)

[mac_truck]

I thought US policy in Syria was to eradicate ISIS, not guard Syrian oil fields for the benefit of some unknown third party.

[silverleaf]

We are not in Syria because of Assad. He is a red herring. This is a US proxy war against Russia and their Persian shia ally, funded by Saudi/ Gulf weapon sales and driven by sunni ideological goals. .. which somehow we seem to find compatible with a Western global strategy to encircle and contain Russia

[realcleanguy]

The war that began when Obama and Hillary armed thousands of “insurgent groups” to overthrow Assad. Now it’s created the worst refugee crisis since world war 2. And Russia became involved in it early on. Now trump has to clean up this horrific mess or wind up in WW3. thank you Democrats, for fracking this all up.

[JudgemAll]

Iran for hammered worse by Israel. As an article stated, our forces destroyed low level troops. Israelies killed a bunch of high level
officers

[pierrem15]

Controlling the oil fields was a major ISIS asset. Controlling them would be a major asset for the Iranian backed Syrian regime.

Keeping the oil fields out of unfriendly hands is just good strategy.

[WilliamIII]

You say we’re in Syria to fight a proxy war against Russia When did Congress declare war?

[WilliamIII]

As far as I can see, were continuing the Obama/Hillary/neocon arming of al Qaida troops in Syria, to take down Assad. When were the American people asked if they supported this war? When did Congress vote to declare this war?

[granada]

Trump’s Syria policy makes himself like John McCain’s servant.

[Texas Fossil]

Don’t know the article you reference, but Wagner troops for Russia are not “low level”. They are like Blackwater for US.

Turkey thinks no one will act against his takeover in Efrin and if not stopped there he will attack all of Northern Syria. Break with NATO? Align with Russia? Nobody knows.

[Texas Fossil]

I don’t share your view here.