Three US troops being evaluated for brain injuries after Syria attack: Pentagon”
.US troops are being evaluated for traumatic brain injury (TBI) suffered during an attack in Syria earlier this week, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Three servicemembers are being evaluated for potential TBI, but those numbers could fluctuate, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. No other injuries have been recorded at this time.
The US said it conducted self-defense strikes in Syria’s Deir Ezzor on Tuesday, destroying several weapons systems near the MSS Euphrates. Three rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and mortars were all targeted by the US after being deemed a “clear and imminent threat” to US and Coalition forces.
Washington has so far distanced itself from the offensive launched against Syrian government-held areas of the country. The US has urged for de-escalation and said “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” a designated terrorist organization, was leading the offensive.
Ryder, again on Thursday, said the attack was not related to the ongoing clashes between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters.
Al-Monitor reported that the Deir Ezzor Military Council coordinated with the US military as it launched an operation to push out pro-government forces. Citing unnamed sources, Al-Monitor also said the SDF was provided assistance by the US military during its operations. The SDF published a statement from the Deir Ezzor Military Council saying these operations were carried out in an effort to prevent ISIS from taking advantage of the clashes in the northwest of the country.
Ryder would not clearly state whether or not the US attacks were carried out in coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls a majority of that part of the country.
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