Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Dec. 19 that the number of U.S. troops deployed to Syria is around 2,000, which is twice as many than previously acknowledged.
Ryder said the number has remained such for months or longer.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has long maintained that there are 900 U.S. service members in Syria, apparently to eliminate and deter the spread of the terrorist group ISIS.
“As I understand it, and as it was explained to me, these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that are deployed to meet shifting mission requirements, whereas the core 900 deployers are on longer-term deployments….