"Were Russian Military Contractors Involved In A..." Topic

… Firefight With U.S. Special Forces In Syria?

"The US-backed coalition responded with air or artillery strikes to drive attackers away from one of its forward bases in the country.

The U.S. military says members of the American-backed coalition fighting ISIS in Syria, most likely U.S. special operation forces, and their local partners have come under attack in Eastern Syria from forces allied with the country's dictator Bashar Al Assad. Details remain thin, but the United States is reportedly investigating whether Russian mercenaries or Iranian militias may have been involved in the incident.

On Feb. 7, 2018, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, announced the attack in Syria's Middle Euphrates River Valley had occurred in a brief and vaguely worded statement. The release described the attack as "unprovoked" and directed at a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) headquarters located nearly five miles east of a formal, but dubiously effective "de-confliction" line that the United States and Russia have agreed to in Syria to separate the two countries' activities. The enemy force reportedly included artillery and other heavy weapons and had to cross the Euphrates River with that equipment…"
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Amicalement
Armand

When PMC's are involved, the lines and rules of engagement can become unclear. Then again, they are less likely to take massive risks because you can't cash that big paycheck when you're dead.

Agree!

Amicalement
Armand

"When PMC's are involved"

And clearly you have no clue what your posting about. The lines and rules of engagement are very clear! Unless someone violates it, which also happens in military units.

April 2004 Najaf Iraq is just one of many incidents where PMC's took massive risk over their paycheck. When the US military said standby its to dangerous to resupply our Marines. Blackwater little bird pilots took it upon themselves to not only resupply PMC's who were surrounded and fighting. But resupplied Marines who were fighting.

But in the above report they are talking about possible Russian PMC's. Russian PMC's in an area that is supported by the Russian government and military. So its more probably those suspected Russian PMC's were in fact government supported volunteers working with the Assad's forces. Using PMC as a cover to avoid open hostilities with US forces. Russia did a very similar tactic in Ukraine.

From what I've heard, it was a very one sided firefight. The "vaguely worded statement" was intentional; the Russians none-the-less received the message very clearly to stay on their side of the line. Smart for Secretary Mattis to play this down. One of the great things about our President is that he doesn't micromanage the military.