U.S. forces in Syria on Friday announced the start of a military exercise amid reports that Russia has warned of possible attack in the same area.
The exercise includes a company-size unit practicing a live-fire aerial assault in the area around Al Tanf, where the U.S. has set up a garrison and declared a deconfliction zone under Operation Inherent Resolve.
Russia has threatened an offensive on the area twice in recent days and claimed the U.S. is harboring militants, raising concerns among American commanders, according to CNN.
“Our forces will demonstrate the capability to deploy rapidly, assault a target with integrated air and ground forces, and conduct a rapid exfiltration anywhere in the OIR combined joint operations area,” Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said in a statement. “Exercises like this bolster our defeat-ISIS capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces.”
The U.S. has used the garrison at Al Tanf for about two years as a base of operations against the Islamic State in Syria. It includes a 34-mile deconfliction zone meant to avoid any clash between American forces and nearby forces associated with Syria, Russia, or Iran.
The rising tensions come as the Syrian government under President Bashar Assad, with the help of Russia, is poised for a final, major offensive against rebels in the country’s western province of Idlib.
Russia, Iran, and Turkey held talks on Friday about the offensive.
President Trump warned Syria against a reckless attack in Idlib. His administration, including the Pentagon, has said any new use of chemical weapons by Assad will trigger swift action by the U.S.
