The new contingent would not initially play a combat role, but instead would be advising Kurdish and Arab fighters on the ground. But the troops would be entering an increasingly complex and dangerous battlefield. The plan, which must still be approved by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and President Trump, would mark a continued departure from the Obama administration, which resisted committing more ground troops to Syria.
There are already in Syria roughly 500 U.S. Special Operations forces operating alongside the Kurdish and Arab fighters, in addition to roughly 250 Rangers and 200 Marines.
 
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News Alert Wed., Mar. 15, 2017 1:52 p.m.
  
 
U.S. to likely send as many as 1,000 more ground troops into Syria ahead of Raqqa offensive, officials say
The new contingent would not initially play a combat role, but instead would be advising Kurdish and Arab fighters on the ground. But the troops would be entering an increasingly complex and dangerous battlefield. The plan, which must still be approved by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and President Trump, would mark a continued departure from the Obama administration, which resisted committing more ground troops to Syria.
There are already in Syria roughly 500 U.S. Special Operations forces operating alongside the Kurdish and Arab fighters, in addition to roughly 250 Rangers and 200 Marines.
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