{"id":29383,"date":"2017-10-04T23:05:38","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T23:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/04\/russia-threatens-us-forces-calls-america-an-obstacle-to-defeating-isis-in-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:33:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:33:39","slug":"russia-threatens-us-forces-calls-america-an-obstacle-to-defeating-isis-in-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/10\/04\/russia-threatens-us-forces-calls-america-an-obstacle-to-defeating-isis-in-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia threatens US forces, calls America an obstacle to defeating ISIS in Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement Wednesday calling the U.S. an obstacle to defeating ISIS in Syria and threatened military action in and around a small U.S. military garrison known as Tanf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia further claimed that U.S. forces are aiding and supporting ISIS against Russian and Syrian interests in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe main problem in defeating the ISIS in Syria is not combat capabilities of terrorists but support and overtures by American counterparts,\u201d the statement from the Russian defense ministry reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 file photo, a Russian soldier guards as a military helicopter flies over Palmyra, Syria. (AP Photo, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The statement comes as Russian and Syrian forces are reeling from a major counter-offensive launched by ISIS fighters in and around the Deir el-Zour province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to ISIS\u2019 propaganda outlet, Amaq, in one attack alone the terror group managed to kill 65 Russian and Syrian regime troops while also kidnapping two Russian soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amaq posted video yesterday of the two Russian soldiers they claim to have captured in the village of al-Shula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Russian Ministry of Defense has denied any Russian troops have been captured, according to a report from Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The counter-offensive by the ISIS militants is a major setback for the Syrian regime and its Russian backers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just last month, the Syrian army, backed by Russian airpower, managed to break a nearly yearlong siege against the Syrian city of Deir el-Zour by ISIS militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, those rapid gains have been beset by considerable losses, including two high ranking officers within the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian Gen. Valery Asapov was killed in a mortar attack on Sept. 24, according to Russian state-run media TASS<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tragedy that we witnessed, the death of a Russian commander, is the price paid in blood for this double dealing in the US\u2019 policy [in the war on terror],\u201d Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS about the Russian general\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on Oct. 1, Russian Col. Valery Fedyanin succumbed to wounds he received when his vehicle struck a landmine in the province of Hama, Syria, on Sept. 22, TASS <\/a>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions in Deir ez-Zour province are high as U.S.-backed fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces are also battling ISIS militants, just a stone\u2019s throw away from Russian and Syrian forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several analysts have noted that Deir ez-Zour province and the Middle Euphrates River Valley is home to numerous oil fields, which once were used by ISIS to finance the terror regime\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congested battle space and contention over control of lucrative oil fields have resulted in alleged bombings by Russian aircraft on two separate occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 photo Russian military helicopter flies over a desert in Deir es-Zor province, Syria. A U.S.-backed force in Syria said a Russian airstrike wounded six of its fighters Saturday near the eastern city of Deir el-Zour while in southeast Syria, Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies began a new offensive aiming to capture areas along the Iraq border under the cover of Russian airstrikes. (AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe emphasize that we will not stay silent, and we will use our right to legitimate defense and retaliate,\u201d the SDF general command said in statement after an alleged strike Sept. 25 by Russian aircraft wounded several SDF fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. garrison at Tanf, near the Syria-Iraq border, houses a handful of U.S. special operators and vetted Syrian partner forces. U.S. troops at the outpost are tasked with training former Syrian opposition fighters in the fight against ISIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\t