US announces military exercise in Syria after Russia warns of possible attack
Source: The Hill
BY REBECCA KHEEL - 09/07/18 12:01 PM EDT
U.S. and anti-Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) coalition forces kicked off a military exercise Friday near a garrison in southeastern Syria, U.S. Central Command announced.
“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,” Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for Central Command, said in a statement, using the acronym for the anti-ISIS mission, Operation Inherent Resolve. “Exercises like this bolster our defeat-ISIS capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces,” he added.
The exercise comes after Russia reportedly warned the United States that it and its Syrian regime allies are prepared to launch an attack near the base.
Tensions in Syria have been running high as the Syrian regime prepares an offensive on the last rebel stronghold of Idlib.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/405560-us-announces-military-exercise-in-syria-after-russia-warns-of-possible-attack