Pentagon: Exclusion zone in Syria is not a ‘no fly zone’

Cook says the Syrians have been warned repeatedly that the USA will defend its forces on the ground, and that their warplanes should not fly in areas near US troops.

The Pentagon issued a stern warning to Russia and Syria that it will do whatever is necessary to protect USA forces and partners fighting Islamic State, even if that means shooting down Russian and Syrian aircraft.

“I don’t want to make promises, but I intend to have Mosul and Raqqa done on my watch”, Townsend told Stars and Stripes, making a hefty promise for only a year’s stint.

“We always have the right to defend our forces”, said Cook, when asked whether or not the USA would consider shooting down Russian or Syrian aircraft that threaten USA forces.

Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the commander of U.S. Central Command who attended the change of command ceremony, praised MacFarland’s contributions to the anti-ISIS campaign. It will not include an immediate expansion of the USA ground role, he said.

American officials warned Moscow and Damascus that they would take necessary measures to defend United States military men in Syria, new commander of USA forces in Iraq and Syria, General Stephen Townsend said. Intensified attacks by US and allied planes would give those local forces “the breathing space to do that”, he said.

The general cautioned that IS would continue to pose a threat in small cities and towns, and in rural areas of both Iraq and Syria, even when that does occur.

While perhaps not a change in policy, both Townsend and Cook’s statements are unusual in that they represent the first time the Pentagon has issued such warnings openly to Russian Federation and Syria. The next day, the U.S.

Several American troops had to be evacuated and now Washington has stepped up jet patrols in northern Syria to stop it happening again.

Gen. Townsend takes over the USA -led campaign as Iraqi forces are working to recapture areas surrounding Mosul in an attempt to isolate the city. The US contingent is though to number as many as 300.