UPDATE: DOD Vs. Russia MOD on U.S., Russian troop clash in Syria: Four U.S. Service members injured

UPDATE 28 August

SecDef:

Statement attributed to: Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman on the Russian Forces’ Breach of Deconfliction Arrangement in Syria:

“On Tuesday, Russian forces breached our deconfliction arrangement in Syria and injured U.S. service members with their deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior.  Our military deconflicts operations in time and space with Russian forces in Syria to protect the force and mitigate risk of unintended escalation.  

We commend our personnel on the ground for deescalating this unfortunate encounter through professionalism and restraint, which are hallmarks of the U.S. military. 
 
We have advised the Russians that their behavior was dangerous and unacceptable. We expect a return to routine and professional deconfliction in Syria and reserve the right to defend our forces vigorously whenever their safety is put at risk.”

RUSSIA MOD: Russia accuses U.S. troops of blocking the path of a Russian Convoy RFE reported.
“According to the Russian Defense Ministry, coalition forces in Syria had been notified about the Russian convoy’s planned route, and the Russian military took “necessary steps” to end the incident and “further implement the assigned task,” RFE reported, adding:

Videos show that U.S. convoy was blocking the road of the Russian Convoy.

Background 25 August Four U.S. Servicemembers were injured in in altercation with Russian troops in Syria. Whether Russian troops were injured is still uncertain.

Media reports were all over the place, including accusations as to Trump not being tougher on Putin.

Several soldiers were reported to have received minor injuries. This happened through negligence, and not intentionally, there was no shootout between the parties. The Pentagon and US Central Command in the region declined to comment on the incident, Russianews reported.

Two U.S. officials, told the NYT that injuries were a result of a collision between Russian and American vehicles, and not any exchange of fire. The officials said four troops were showing mild concussion-like symptoms and were receiving medical attention at their base in Syria.

Russian troops appeared to ram U.S. troops vehicles blocking the path of the Russians. Earlier on August 26, footage of “tough pressure” by the Russian Mi-8 of the American military got to the network. The helicopter flew up to military equipment in the area of ​​Syrian Derik and was directly above it for several seconds, Russiadaily reported and provided the following video.

DOD and CENTCOM have not released an official statement. We will update when they do so. But U.S. lawmakers, jumping on the case in order to politicize it, made the following statement without the bombastic members having conducted due diligence as the the facts:

“ Recent reports that Russian forces in Syria harassed and assaulted U.S. forces are deeply concerning. Read our bipartisan statement from members of the House Armed Service Committee condemning Russia’s aggressive behavior:

“Recent reports that Russian forces in Syria harassed and assaulted U.S. forces are deeply concerning.  We are appalled by reports of Russian military aggression toward U.S. troops on the ground in Syria and strongly condemn their actions. We strongly urge Russian forces to stop these aggressive behaviors immediately. It is critical that officials at the Pentagon and the White House also clearly communicate to the highest levels of the Russian government and military that actions like this will not be tolerated.”

The U.S. intervened in Syria in 2011 and Putin was later invited in by Syrian President Assad. Neither party has any intention of quitting Syria completely, but U.S. troops were drawn down and relocated from the area where the altercation occurred earlier this year.

Washington Times warned of potential clashes in the area last year as the shift in U.S. troops positioning and strategy was being announced.

Despite Mr. Trump’s efforts to pull American forces from a “forever war” in Syria, Pentagon leaders said the mission to protect vital oil fields from ISIS has expanded and now includes a directive to keep anyone — including the Russian military and Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s forces — away from the energy reserves.