{"id":56689,"date":"2017-10-31T19:26:04","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T19:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/31\/4000-us-troops-in-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:04:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:04:47","slug":"4000-us-troops-in-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/10\/31\/4000-us-troops-in-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"4,000 US troops in Syria?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James B. Jarrard, the commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters at a televised press briefing on Tuesday that there were 4,000 U.S. troops in Syria, then quickly walked backed his answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of U.S. troops operating in Syria has been mystery since the start of the U.S.-led campaign to oust ISIS fighters from Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Obama administration originally set what is referred to as Force Manning Levels, or FML. These numbers represent the maximum number of troops allowed in Iraq and Syria. The current FML for Iraq is 5,262 and 503 for Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, those numbers don\u2019t paint the actual picture of the size and scope of the U.S. footprint in either country. U.S. commanders on the ground have leeway to bring in extra troops for limited periods of time that don\u2019t count towards the total FML.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current number of troops in Syria is above the FML, Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesperson told Military Times. But the number of U.S. boots on the ground in Syria is \u201cnot anywhere near\u201d the 4,000 figure Jarrard mistakenly told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\t