Washington. The United States Government under the Trump administration, has stopped releasing information on American troop deployments worldwide in contrast to Obama era policies that shared information with the press and public.
During March, 400 US Marines were secretly deployed to northern Syria without Syrian permission or contact with Russian forces invited by the Syria government to assist in battles against Islamic state terrorist forces. The incognito deployment was also apparent when 300 American paratroopers were sent to assist Iraqi military forces during their long running attempt to retake the city of Mosul.
Under the Obama administration, the Pentagon broadcast US force deployments as a matter of routine press briefings. When questioned a Pentagon spokesperson at the Department of Defense admitted the policy has been changed “in order to assure tactical surprise.”
The Pentagon DOD spokesperson went on to explain, “To ensure operational security and force protection, the coalition will not routinely announce or confirm information about the capabilities, force numbers, locations, or movement of forces in or out of Iraq and Syria.”
The Syrian deployment under Trump is in contrast to his promises during Campaign 2016 to withdraw US Armed Forces internationally. Up to 1000 more US soldiers are expected to join the initial force deployment of 400 US Marines, according to Pentagon sources.
Congress has not authorized the troops intervention in Syria and many members are now voicing concerns the Trump administration may be going too far with clear consent to put US military forces at risk in combat situations without a clear mandate from both houses of Congress. The United States currently has it’s troops in over 150 countries worldwide.