The US plan to send armoured vehicles and possibly tanks accompanied by combat troops to eastern Syria to “secure” oil fields from Isis could mean deploying several hundred and potentially thousands of American forces to the area. The new deployment will essentially reverse what Donald Trump has been promoting as a withdrawal from the country and has antagonised Russia who have called it “international state banditry”.

The White House’s continuously evolving position on Syria in the past two weeks proves that the reality on the ground is more complicated than how it looks from the Oval Office. Latest developments show that disentangling the US military from Syria may not be happening anytime soon. And President Trump’s reasoning for the sometimes contradicting decisions has been unconvincing.

The argument that American troops need to be deployed to protect oil fields in eastern Syria has already been met with criticism. Oil reserves in Syria are not very significant and have been decreasing since before the war. There is speculation that the latest decision is about more than just oil and is a way for the United States to try to keep some presence in Syria.

This would be the first time that the US army sent tanks to Syria. American forces have been stationed in Syria to fight Isis but did not need tanks for that mission. The new deployment could be planned for potential threats from the Syrian army and its Russian allies.

Robert Rabil, professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University, says the US presence in Syria is becoming increasingly dangerous. “Sooner or later American troops will face Russian and Syrian forces as they will try to control all of Syria,” he told The Independent. “Syrian Kurdish fighters will not be able to support the US like before, given their recent agreement with the Syrian and Russian governments.”

Turkey launches offensive into Syria Show all 25 1 /25 Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows following Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched an assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria with air strikes and explosions reported along the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of the attack on Twitter, labelling it "Operation Peace Spring". (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP Turkey launches offensive into Syria A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria today, with intensive bombardment paving the way for an invasion made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA

Experts argue that the United States has enough troops and bases across the Middle East and needs to withdraw from Syria as it has no national security interest in the country.

Mr Rabil says US policy in the region should be grounded in its national security interest. “This interest involves supporting our allies and partners but not fighting their historic wars or their settling scores,” he added.

Many believe that the struggle for Syria is over and that presidents Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin are the winners of the war. “Even our ally the UAE is opening an embassy there. Arab League leaders are embracing Syria’s foreign minister and soon will be invited in,” Mr Rabil said.

Mr Trump has also suggested that the “Kurds” start moving to the oil region in Syria. But it was not clear exactly who he meant by that, whether he is referring to the Kurdish fighters in Syria or the millions of Syrian Kurds who live in the country. And even if this relocation does happen, it could create fresh new problems in the region.

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Kurdish forces will be in a difficult position as they are now stuck between the Syrian government and its Russian ally, with whom they made a new deal; Turkey, which wants them out of the region; and the United States, which has just betrayed them. The Kurds will most likely rethink and re-evaluate their interests and their future before supporting the US, experts say.