US bolsters bases in northeastern Syria with Apache helicopters
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A Syrian military source told Sputnik that a US military plane landed at the Kharab Al-Jir base, carrying military equipment, air defense missiles, logistics materials, and 25 service members.
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In this picture taken Thursday, March 29, 2018, US soldiers, left, sit on a house that turned to an outpost on a road leading to the tense front line between U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council fighters and Turkish-backed fighters, at Halawanji village, north of Manbij town, Syria. (AP)
The US military is continuing to bolster its bases in the occupied Al-Hasakah province of northeastern Syria, deploying additional Apache helicopters and military equipment, according to a Syrian military source cited by Sputnik.
"US forces have reinforced their bases with 15 Apache helicopters to improve their ability to conduct attacks," the source said.
A Syrian military source told Sputnik that a US military plane landed at the Kharab Al-Jir base, carrying military equipment, air defense missiles, logistics materials, and 25 service members.
Earlier the same day, the US DoD announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would oversee the deployment of more forces to the Middle East to support "Israel," though the exact number of additional troops has yet to be determined.
Read more: US Conoco occupation base in Syria comes under 3rd attack in 24 hours
In the past two weeks, the Israeli regime has assassinated two high-ranking Resistance leaders and carried out an air aggression on Yemen.
Hamas' Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on Wednesday while on an official visit. Less than 12 hours later, "Israel" assassinated a Hezbollah top military leader, Sayyed Mohsen Shokor, in an airstrike on Beirut, which also resulted in the martyrdom of Iranian military advisor Milad Bidi and five civilians - three women and two children. The Israeli regime also conducted an airstrike on Yemen's Ras Kathib power station located in the Hodeidah port, leading to the martyrdom of six civil servants.
On Friday, Secretary Austin ordered the deployment of additional naval warships, fighter jets, and anti-ballistic missile defense systems in the Middle East.
The move is said to be in anticipation of the Iranian and Resistance Axis response to the recent Israeli assassinations and aggressions.
"To maintain a carrier strike group presence in the Middle East, the Secretary has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group to replace the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group, currently on deployment in the Central Command area of responsibility," the Pentagon said in a statement.
Austin also ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the US European Command and US Central Command regions, and increased readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defense, the statement added.
"These posture adjustments add to the broad range of capabilities the U.S. military maintains in the region, including the USS WASP Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) operating in the Eastern Mediterranean," with over 4,500 Sailors and Marines onboard across the force.
