The United States and Russia traded the blame Thursday for an incident earlier in the week in Syria that injured several U.S. troops.
In its first official statement on the issue, the Pentagon said on Thursday that Russia was engaging in “deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior” when a Russian military vehicle collided with a U.S. military vehicle, injuring U.S. troops.
“On Tuesday, Russian troops violated our deconflict regime in Syria and wounded U.S. officials with their deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.
“We have advised the Russians that their behavior was dangerous and unacceptable,” he added. “We expect a return to routine and professional deconstruction in Syria and reserve the right to vigorously defend our forces if their security is endangered.”
Earlier on Thursday, Russian officials said the U.S. military was to blame for the confrontation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov v. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. in accordance with the deconflict agreement.
But, the ministry said Gerasimov told Milley, U.S. troops tried to block the patrol, which “took every step necessary to prevent the incident and continue with its mission.”
Milley’s office announced the call Wednesday, but said the couple agreed not to open the content “in accordance with previous practice.”
At issue is a meeting that took place Tuesday morning in northeastern Syria.
Politico first reported the incident Wednesday, and the National Security Council confirmed it later Wednesday.
Video apparently shows the encounter had emerged on social media earlier Wednesday. In the videos, a Russian red is seen rambling into an American car, and a Russian helicopter is seen flying low over American troops.
During a routine patrol by the U.S. leadership of the anti-ISIS coalition, a Russian military car hit a coalition armored vehicle, injuring the crew, National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement Wednesday. .
The situation was de-escalated when the US-led coalition patrol left the area, Ullyot said.
In Thursday’s statement, Hoffman praised the American troops for their professionalism.
“We commend our staff on the ground for de-escalating this unfortunate encounter through professionalism and restraint, which are hallmarks of the U.S. military,” he said.
While it is not uncommon for U.S. and Russian troops to encounter each other on the road in Syria, Pentagon officials have said those previous encounters were largely professional.
The United States has about 500 troops in Syria, mostly in the northeast, where it is helping local troops to fight remnants of ISIS.
President Trump
Donald John The memo: Trump reaches for optimism as weapon against Biden Five cuts to GOP’s groundbreaking convention Trump mocks Democrats in White House speech: ‘We are here and they are not’ MORE has tried several times to withdraw from Syria, but returned amid fierce bilingual setbacks. He said troops were staying in Syria to protect oil.
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