U.S., French military deployments reach eastern Euphrates: Source
U.S. troops. File photo.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to BasNews website, the source said deploying French troops “in Deir az-Zour as well as the air cover by the U.S.-Coalition shows readiness to respond to whatever violation by the region against its allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces.”
“France recently deployed missiles in Deir az-Zour countryside, fearing progress by the regime forces or its militias against eastern Euphrates region, controlled by SDF,” he added.
The missiles, according to the source, “were previously used against the locations of the regime or its militias inside Deir az-Zour.”
The U.S. State Department previously said it does not seek fighting Syrian or Iranian troops, however, it will use necessary and proportional force to defend the U.S. troops or its partners in war against Islamic State in Syria.
In a televised interview on Thursday, Assad expressed readiness for negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces, or else he would use force against them to get out of the regions they control.
Confrontations broke out recently between SDF and Syrian regime forces in Deir az-Zour, east of the country, in the wake of progress by the latter toward Eastern Euphrates.