ISIS News Today 2017: Marines Arrive in Syria as Artillery Support to Retake Raqqa

By Amee Florence Payno, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, March 09, 2017

A contingent of several hundred U.S. Marines has arrived in Syria to provide artillery support in the Syrian rebels' effort to retake Raqqa, the de-facto headquarters of militant group ISIS, according to U.S. defense officials.

According to The Washington Post, the deployment signifies a new escalation in the U.S. war efforts in Syria, allowing more conventional U.S. troops to join the battle.

The force deployed to provide artillery support is part of the 11^{th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which left San Diego on Navy ships back in October. The Marines on the ground are part of an artillery battery that can fire powerful 155-millimeter shells from M777 Howitzers.}

The expeditionary unit's ground force, Battalion Landing Team 1^{st Battalion, 4^{th Marines, will reportedly man the guns and deliver fire support for U.S.-backed rebel forces who are preparing to make an assault on the city. Additional infantrymen from the unit will be providing securities, while a part of the expeditionary force's combat logistics element will be handling resupplies.}}

In order to join the effort to retake Raqqa, the Marines were flown from Djibouti to Kuwait before landing in Syria.

A defense official also told The Washington Post that the deployment of the Marines in Syria was not the byproduct of President Donald Trump's request to concoct a new plan to fight the Islamic State. The plan had reportedly "been in the works for sometime."

However, according to The Guardian, the temporary deployment is still also a sign that Donald Trump's administration is leaning toward granting the Pentagon more flexibility in making routine combat decisions in the country's efforts to defeat ISIS.

The Pentagon has yet to publicly confirm the deployment of artillery support to retake Raqqa, citing operational security.

The recent deployment of the Marines in Syria is expected to be discussed on Thursday when the head of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Joe Votel, the top U.S. general assigned to oversee the movement of American forces in the Middle East, appears before Congress in order to testify about the fight against ISIS.