US to build outposts along Syria-Turkey border, said Mattis

The US military will establish observation posts along the Turkish and Syrian borders to observe and report moving forces moving in the region, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, Secretary of Defense James MattisJames Norman Mattis2020 Democrats dispute Trump's use of troops on the Mexican Trump border: "Do not worry" about Thanksgiving troops spending at the border US Customs cuts off traffic in the country to a point of no Key entry at the border PLUS These posts are aimed at reducing tensions between Kurdish forces aligned on US territory and the Turkish authorities, who accuse some Kurdish forces of being involved in terrorist attacks in Turkey.

"Turkey, NATO ally, has legitimate concerns about terrorist threats and their origin," Mattis said Wednesday. "We do not reject any of their concerns."

The outposts will allow US forces "to call the Turks and warn them if we see anything coming out of an area in which we operate," Mattis added, according to ABC News.

Some Kurdish forces are also operating in the region as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a partner of the United States in its fight against the Islamic State.

Turkey has been conducting small skirmishes with Kurdish forces along its border with Syria, pulling the forces away from offensive maneuvers against the Islamic State and pushing the US-aligned group to temporarily suspend their operations, said the point of sale.

The United States currently has about 2,000 soldiers serving in Syria to assist local forces against Islamic State militants, ABC said. Mattis' latest order will not affect these deployment numbers, according to the Pentagon.

"Progress has been made, but much remains to be done, as ISIS uses civilians as shields, and coalition forces are committed to limiting harm to the local population," it said. the Pentagon communiqué announcing the mission.