A convoy of U.S. armored vehicles passed through the city of Qamishli, heading toward Kurdish-held oil fields in northeastern Syria, Saturday, October 26, two days after the U.S. said it would beef up its military presence to protect northeastern Syria oil fields. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces abandoned several positions to comply with a deal allowing Damascus, Ankara and Moscow to carve up their now-defunct autonomous region.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday Washington would send armored vehicles and troops to the Syrian oil fields in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of Islamic State militants.
His comments came after President Donald Trump earlier this month pulled about 1,000 U.S. military personnel out of northeast Syria, a move that prompted Turkey to launch a cross-border incursion targeting the Kurdish YPG militia, a former U.S. ally against Islamic State.
Trump's decision drew an angry backlash from Congress, including key Republicans who saw the pullout as a betrayal of the Kurds and a move that could bolster Islamic State.
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