News

Actions

Pentagon could propose sending troops to Syria

Posted

(CNN) -- The Defense Department is considering proposing sending conventional ground combat forces into northern Syria for the first time as part of an effort to speed up the fight against ISIS, CNN has learned.

"It's possible that you may see conventional forces hit the ground in Syria for some period of time," one defense official told CNN.

But the official emphasized that any decision is ultimately up to the President.

President Donald Trump has ordered his defense secretary to come up with a proposal to combat ISIS before the end of the month. If the idea was approved by Trump in the coming weeks, it would significantly alter US military operations in Syria.

Until now only small teams made up largely of special operations forces have operated in Syria providing training and assistance to anti-ISIS opposition groups on the ground. Conventional units operate in larger numbers, and would require a more significant footprint of security protection both on the ground and in the air.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Saturday

08/30/2025

Clear

-° / 74°

0%

Sunday

08/31/2025

Clear

103° / 74°

0%

Monday

09/01/2025

Mostly Clear

105° / 77°

3%

Tuesday

09/02/2025

Clear

102° / 74°

1%

Wednesday

09/03/2025

Clear

101° / 74°

0%

Thursday

09/04/2025

Clear

102° / 75°

0%

Friday

09/05/2025

Clear

101° / 74°

1%

Saturday

09/06/2025

Clear

98° / 71°

6%