U.S. moves long-range rocket systems from Jordan into Syria
The U.S. military has moved a new truck-mounted, long-range rocket launcher from Jordan to a base in Syria’s al-Tanf, stepping up its presence in the area, regional intelligence sources said.
Reuters quoted the source as saying on Wednesday that the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) have been deployed at the base located close to the borders with Iraq and Jordan.
“They have arrived now in Tanf base and they are a significant boost to the U.S. military presence there,” one senior intelligence source said, without elaborating. The HIMARS had already been deployed in northern Syria with U.S.-backed forces battling Daesh (ISIS/ISIL), he added.
The missiles were used several times from the Jordanian border to hit militants who had a foothold in the southeastern desert, according to the source.
The missile system’s deployment will give US forces the ability to strike targets within its 300-kilometer range.
