Erstmals sind Fotos von US-Bodentruppen in Syrien aufgetaucht.
27.05.16, 10:55
Einheiten der US-Streitkräfte sind in Syrien im Einsatz. So weit, so bekannt. Offizieller Befehl für die etwa 300 Spezialkräfte ist es allerdings, kurdische und arabische Partner der USA vor Ort zu trainieren und zu beraten. Weit hinter der Frontlinie. Es handle sich nicht um einen Kampfeinsatz.
Nun sind allerdings Fotos aufgetaucht, die das Gegenteil beweisen sollen. Ein Fotograf der Nachrichtenagentur AFP traf nach eigenen Angaben im Dorf Fatisah, etwa 50 Kilometer von Rakka entfernt, auf mehrere dieser Kräfte. Laut dem Fotograf "nahe der Frontlinie". Auf jeden Fall an keinem Ort, an dem Soldaten ausgebildet werden.
Wie n-tv.de berichtet, tragen die US-Spezialkräfte offenbar Aufnäher der kurdischen Volksschutzeinheiten YPG. Das macht die Sache noch brisanter. Denn die YPG gehört zwar zu den stärksten Gegnern des IS, steht aber auch der verbotenen kurdischen Arbeiterpartei PKK in der Türkei nahe. Die Regierung in Ankara stuft sie als Terrorgruppe ein. Eine Vergrößerung der Spannungen zwischen den USA und der Türkei ist also vorprogrammiert.
Armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces walk in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqa on May 25, 2016.
US-backed Syrian fighters and Iraqi forces pressed twin assaults against the Islamic State group, in two of the most important ground offensives yet against the jihadists. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formed in October 2015, announced on May 24 its push for IS territory north of Raqa city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border and home to an estimated 300,000 people. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- largely considered the most effective independent anti-IS force on the ground in Syria -- but it also includes Arab Muslim and Christian fighters.
/ AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN
Pentagon reagiert reserviert
Wie der britische Guardianberichtet, verweigerte Pentagon-Sprecher Peter Cook einen Kommentar auf die Fotos. Er sagte: "Unsere Spezialeinheiten haben in der Vergangenheit Insignien und Identifikationszeichen ihrer Partner getragen." Ebenfalls wies er den Vorwurf zurück, die Einheiten würden die Grenzen der Mission überschreiten. "Sie sind nicht in den vorderen Reihen. Sie stellen Beratung und Hilfe zur Verfügung."
Berichte aus dem Irak
Aber nicht nur in Syrien, sondern auch im Irak sind US-Spezialeinheiten im Einsatz. Aus dem Irak gibt es Videos, die US-Einheiten in Feuergefechten zeigen. Ebenfalls verloren dort bereits drei amerikanische Soldaten das Leben.
Armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces walk in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqa on May 25, 2016.
US-backed Syrian fighters and Iraqi forces pressed twin assaults against the Islamic State group, in two of the most important ground offensives yet against the jihadists. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formed in October 2015, announced on May 24 its push for IS territory north of Raqa city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border and home to an estimated 300,000 people. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- largely considered the most effective independent anti-IS force on the ground in Syria -- but it also includes Arab Muslim and Christian fighters.
/ AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN
Armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces ride in the back of a pickup truck in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqa on May 25, 2016.
US-backed Syrian fighters and Iraqi forces pressed twin assaults against the Islamic State group, in two of the most important ground offensives yet against the jihadists. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formed in October 2015, announced on May 24 its push for IS territory north of Raqa city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border and home to an estimated 300,000 people. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- largely considered the most effective independent anti-IS force on the ground in Syria -- but it also includes Arab Muslim and Christian fighters.
/ AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN
Armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces are seen in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqa on May 25, 2016.
US-backed Syrian fighters and Iraqi forces pressed twin assaults against the Islamic State group, in two of the most important ground offensives yet against the jihadists. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formed in October 2015, announced on May 24 its push for IS territory north of Raqa city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border and home to an estimated 300,000 people. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- largely considered the most effective independent anti-IS force on the ground in Syria -- but it also includes Arab Muslim and Christian fighters.
/ AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN
Armed men identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces are seen in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqa on May 25, 2016.
US-backed Syrian fighters and Iraqi forces pressed twin assaults against the Islamic State group, in two of the most important ground offensives yet against the jihadists. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formed in October 2015, announced on May 24 its push for IS territory north of Raqa city, which is around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border and home to an estimated 300,000 people. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- largely considered the most effective independent anti-IS force on the ground in Syria -- but it also includes Arab Muslim and Christian fighters.
/ AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN
Kommentare