In would could herald a major escalation in America’s effort to fight ISIS in Syria, photos emerged in early March appearing to show a convoy of specially-modified U.S. armored vehicles rolling toward a town recently liberated by anti-ISIS allies.
A convoy of US forces armoured vehicles drives on the outskirts of #Manbij, #Syria. https://t.co/naqrTMPDvj Pic: Delil Souleiman/@AFPphoto pic.twitter.com/gUq9fJMfbd
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) March 6, 2017
Media outlets in Syria posted photos and video footage of what look like tricked-out M1126 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles rolling across the Euphrates river into Syria headed toward the town of Manbij, now the front line in the anti-ISIS coalition’s fight to take the last remaining militant stronghold in Raqqa.
The vehicles appeared to be carrying U.S. special operations troops and were flying American flags on their antennae.
Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian confirmed the influx of American armor in a March 4 statement via Twitter, saying the armored push was a “deliberate action” to reassure allies and to defeat ISIS.
.@CJTFOIR has taken this deliberate action to reassure Coaltion mbrs partner forces, deter aggression and keep focus on defeating #ISIS https://t.co/ThPFlJem5s
— OIR Spokesman (@OIRSpox) March 4, 2017
The armored escalation comes just days after top Pentagon brass reportedly delivered a new plan to President Donald Trump on how to defeat ISIS. In a Feb. 28 speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump vowed to “demolish and destroy ISIS” and to “extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.”
Though details of the new plan have not been publicly released, the Washington Post reports one preferred option weighs heavily on an increase in U.S. combat power into Syria, including ground troops, helicopters and artillery. There are currently an estimated 500 U.S. special operations troops operating in Syria in a largely advisory role.
#US Army Stryker armored vehicle reportedly heading to #Manbij, #Syria. pic.twitter.com/NOVv8MkCJt
— Raphael Babikian (@RafaelBabikian) March 4, 2017
The Stryker vehicles rolling into Syria appear to have incorporated modifications that make it more like an ultra-up-armored Humvee as opposed to an armored combat vehicle. Some of the photos show an open crew compartment and a unique driver capsule that sits above the usual eye line.
A fleet of up-armored Humvees are also pictured rolling into Syria accompanying the Strykers.