Russia Helps Syria, Pentagon Justifies Deploying M2 Bradley

The Russian military affirmed, Friday, their assistance to the Syrian forces, patrolling the Golan area in the Quneitra countryside near the Bravo Line, which separates the Syrian and Israeli forces, according to RT News.

Commander of one of the Russian battalions said that the most important thing is the inpidual’s work, pointing out that they were conducting joint exercises, including evacuations, transferring reinforcements and repelling attacks.

He added that their mission is to monitor the ceasefire, demonstrate the Russian military presence, and protect the Russian military.

On the other hand, Commander of the US Central Command General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr justified the Pentagon’s decision to deploy M2 Bradley armored vehicles in Syria, noting that it is due to the Russian military presence in the northeast of the country.

During his interview in a virtual conference organized by 'Defense One', McKinsey held the Russian forces responsible for conducting patrols outside their area of control, without coordinating with the American side.

“The Russians actually had a patrol go out of its sector into an area that was not coordinated with us,” McKenzie said. “We didn’t give them permission to do it and we felt it was appropriate to show a little more teeth up there.”

McKenzie stated that there were about 900 U.S. troops in Syria, including M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, which were dispatched to the area in September following an incident with Russian forces.

“I’ve kept those up there,” he continued. “I continually revisit that: Do we want to keep them up there? It just shows that we’re determined the men and women we put on the ground up there have the protection they need to carry out the tasks that we’ve assigned them to do.”