US doubles troops stationed in Syria

US Defense Department spokesman Pat Ryder said he had just received updated statistics on December 19. For many years, the US has had 900 troops stationed in Syria, working with local forces to prevent the rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

Mr. Ryder did not specify when the number of US troops in Syria increased to 2,000, but said "it could have happened several months ago and before the collapse of the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad," Reuters reported.

“The additional troops are considered a temporary presence to support the mission against IS fighters,” said Pat Ryder.

The Biden administration has said US forces will remain in Syria, but that could change when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. During his first term, Trump wanted to withdraw troops from Syria completely but faced opposition, leaving hundreds of troops stationed there.

Also related to the situation in Syria, Reuters reported on December 19 that Russian President Vladimir Putin at his annual press conference held on the same day made his first statements about Syria since Mr. al-Assad was overthrown.

Putin said he had not met Assad since the former Syrian president flew to Moscow but planned to. He also rejected the view that the fall of Assad, Moscow's ally, would mean a defeat for Russia after nine years of involvement in Syria. The Russian leader said that the military intervention in Syria since 2015 had helped prevent Syria from becoming a haven for terrorists.

Mr. Putin also blamed Israel's recent military operations when it entered the Israel-Syria buffer zone in the Golan Heights, saying that Tel Aviv was the "main beneficiary" of the current situation.