The US is sending reinforcements into Syria to secure the oil fields, the Defence Secretary confirmed on Friday, in a reversal of plans to fully withdraw from the conflict.

“We are now taking some actions... to strengthen our position at Deir ez zor, to ensure that we can deny ISIS access to the oil fields,” Mark Esper told reporters during a press conference, using an acronym for Islamic State.

“We are reinforcing that position, it will include some mechanized forces,” Esper said. Mechanized forces usually include tanks and other military assets.

“We will NEVER let a reconstituted ISIS have those fields!” President Trump tweeted on Thursday.

The White House is reportedly considering options for leaving 500 US troops in the country and sending dozens of battle tanks, as well as other heavy military equipment, to protect the US troops stationed near SDF-controlled oil fields.