Turkey attacks U.S. Special force in Syria
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/10/turkey-attacks-us-special-force-in-syria.html
A contingent of U.S. Special Forces was caught up in Turkish shelling
against U.S.-backed Kurdish positions in northern Syria, days after
President Donald Trump told his Turkish counterpart he would withdraw
U.S. troops from certain positions in the area.
A senior Pentagon official said shelling by the Turkish forces was so
heavy that the U.S. personnel considered firing back in self-defense.
Newsweek has learned through both an Iraqi Kurdish
intelligence official and the senior Pentagon official that Special
Forces operating on Mashtenour hill in the majority-Kurdish city of
Kobani fell under artillery fire from Turkish forces conducting their
so-called “Operation Peace Spring” against Kurdish fighters backed by
the U.S. but considered terrorist organizations by Turkey. No injuries
have been reported.
Instead of returning fire, the Special Forces withdrew once the shelling had ceased.
Newsweek previously reported Wednesday
that the current rules of engagement for U.S. forces continue to be
centered around self-defense and that no order has been issued by the
Pentagon for a complete withdrawal from Syria.
The Pentagon official said that Turkish forces should be aware of U.S. positions “down to the grid.”
The official could not specify the exact number of personnel present,
but indicated they were “small numbers below company level,” so
somewhere between 15 and 100 troops. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for comment on the situation.
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