U.S. Marine Sgt. Robert McCabe points out areas of interest to members of his team during a perimeter patrol in Al Taqaddum, Iraq, on March 21, 2016. (Sgt. Rick Hurtado/Marine Corps)
VOA: Pentagon Revises Troop Numbers to 2,000 in Syria; 5,200 in Iraq
PENTAGON — The Pentagon says there are roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, quadruple the number U.S. officials had acknowledged until now.
The figure reflects an order by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to revise how the Pentagon accounted for deployed personnel carrying out major operations in Iraq and Syria. The new number does not mean additional troops have been deployed to the volatile country, but it does show the large inaccuracy of previous figures.
"In implementing this change, we seek to balance informing the American public with the imperative of operational security and denying the enemy any advantage," Pentagon spokesman Army Colonel Robert Manning said Wednesday.
Manning noted that troop numbers in Syria are "trending downward." The revised number of U.S. troops in Iraq remained the same as was previously acknowledged, about 5,200, although Manning said the number of U.S. forces was also trending downward.
"We hope that trend continues," he said.
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More News On The Pentagon Revising Troop Numbers In Syria And Iraq
Pentagon Announces Troop Levels in Iraq, Syria -- US Department Of Defense
Pentagon now says 7,200 troops are in Iraq and Syria -- Defense News
Pentagon finally admits US troop levels in Syria four times higher than previously reported -- Washington Examiner
Pentagon: Four times as many US troops in Syria than previously acknowledged -- The Hill
Pentagon quadruples troop levels in Syria to ‘stabilize’ liberated areas -- RT
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