US Considers Sending Ground Forces into Syria; US Troops Would Help to Speed Up Defeat of IS

The U.S. Department of Defense is considering sending conventional ground combat forces into northern Syria for the first time, in order to speed up the defeat of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), the CNN website reports exclusively today (February 15, 2017).


"It's possible that you may see conventional forces hit the ground in Syria for some period of time," one defense official told CNN.


But the official emphasized that any decision is ultimately up to President Donald Trump, who has ordered his defense secretary to come up with a proposal to combat ISIS before the end of the month.


Until now, the U.S. has only deployed small teams made up largely of Special Operations forces in Syria, providing training and assistance to anti-ISIS opposition groups on the ground.