Pentagon official says Russia, Syria, Iran collaborating to push US out of Syria

Al-Tanf military base of the US on Syrian-Iraqi border
Al-Tanf military base of the US on Syrian-Iraqi border

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russia, Syria, and Iran are collaborating to oust the US of Syria, said a senior official at the Pentagon, reported Breaking Defense. He warned of “triumvirate” efforts with evidence of operational-level planning between Iran-backed Quds Force militia, Russian forces, and the Syrian government.

The Russian activity against the US in Syria has increased since March, with Russian fighter jets harassing US drones. The official pointed to the drone intercepts as a key example of the interest on both sides to push the US out of Syria. Another encounter happened with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone recently. These movements coincided with a Russian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flight over the American al-Tanf garrison, in south Syria.

The official characterized the drone intercept as “safe” but “unprofessional.” The de-confliction line, which ensures coordination between US and Russian forces, is still actively used, and both sides continue to answer each other’s calls, despite increased tensions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The official stated that the spike in Russian movements in recent weeks may be the next step in a gradual escalation. Generals who are in charge in Syria are often sent from Ukraine after they failed there. “So they come back, they’ve got something to prove, maybe,” said the official.

The US forces are still battling sleeper cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. The official said that the US does not aim to ratchet up tensions but is seeking the enduring defeat of ISIS.

The US did not have assets available to immediately respond to the reconnaissance flyover, so officials verbally protested over the de-confliction line but all in vain, he said.

The official also stated that there is evidence of “collaborative planning, collaborative understanding, intelligence sharing” among the Russian, Syrian, and Iranian militias in Syria.

Despite tensions, the de-confliction line remains open between both sides, he noted.