US President Barack Obama has ruled out any plans to send American ground troops in strife-torn Syria, saying it would be a 'mistake' to deploy American or British soldiers to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's government. But the White House just announced that it will send troops to Syria.
"It would be a mistake for the United States, or Great Britain... to send in ground troops.." Obama said.
Hours after calling ground troops in Syria - a mistake - in an interview with the BBC,
US President Barack Obama announced 250 more American soldiers are heading to Syria -- including special forces -- to provide what he called "momentum" in the fight against ISIL or DA-esh. US officials deny there is any contradiction in the White House strategy in Syria.
"It's not mission creep if it's the same mission and it's the same mission. And he introduced about 50 special operations forces on the ground. They have had a positive impact on our ability to go after Daesh inside Syria, and because it's been successful, we want to intensify," US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said.
This video from France 24 claims to show the first wave of American special operation forces -- already on the ground in Syria. The video shows them acting as spotters for US airstrikes in the town of Shadadi. US officials say the additional soldiers will advise and train Syrian opposition forces and recruit more Sunni Arabs to fight DA-esh.
Just last week, the US added 217 more American troops to advise and train forces -- in Iraq.
Administration critics like Senator John McCain are accusing the White House of "gradual escalation" that "will not undo the damage in Syria." He's advocating a much greater commitment of U.S. forces.
Reaction from the Kremlin - which is also operating air strikes in Syria - was much more muted. A spokesperson declined to comment directly, saying simply: The Russian contingent is in Syria on legal grounds on the basis of Syria's request.
But On the ground, a shaky negotiated cease-fire has all but collapsed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 19 civilians were killed Monday alone - in fighting in Aleppo.
And the political transition talks - are caught up -- in intractable differences between the Syrian government and the opposition.