Screenshot from a Twitter post of the US Special Ops Joint Task Task Force-OIR (Iraq / Syria).
The vehicle in question is a wheeled armored personnel carrier equipped with a turret, which resembles the French army's Aravis infantry mobility vehicle. It can be seen in the background of the photo, which purportedly shows US troops lending support to Syrian armed groups fighting Islamic State in the eastern province.
France 24 journalist Wassim Nasr was the first to draw attention to the picture. He said it was released by the US Special Ops Joint Task Force in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday, before being promptly removed - possibly at the request of French authorities.
France is part of the US-led coalition in Syria, and has been actively participating in the aerial campaign in the region. Notably, it was involved in a joint airstrike with the US and the UK in April following an alleged chemical attack on Douma, a then rebel-held suburb of Damascus.
The French government, however, has never said that it has troops on the ground in Deir ez-Zor.
But, the military vehicle in the photo has to be French, according to Nasr. "We know for sure that it is a French vehicle because of its mark - it is an Aravis," he said, adding that "only the French Army and the Saudi Army" have such vehicles, and that the Saudis are not known to be present in Deir ez-Zor.
He also said that similar vehicles have been seen in Syria on "numerous occasions", in the territories controlled by US-backed militants, such as Manbij. The journalist said that the picture was taken in August of this year.
While France 24 reported on the issue, neither the French Army nor the US military have commented so far.
The US Defense Secretary James Mattis, however, told Congress in late April that France had sent special forces to Syria, and "reinforced' Washington in its fight against Islamic State, but didn't go into further details. Deir ez-Zor province is one of the few remaining areas of the country where ISIL still maintains a presence.
RT could not independently verify the authenticity of the photo reported to have been shared by the U.S. military.
I recently saw in RT a French documentary known as: Ghost Wars ([Link] https://www.rt.com/shows/documentary/438233-french-national-energy-economy/). Which shows how US groups proposed French to fusion multinational corporations (in a 50% to 50% relationship). To strengthen shared interest and use US sales channels. The proposition was an outright lie to trick the french. As the final contract showed a 51% US ownership with a side clause buy option for the 100% of the company (till 2019). The french company targeted was Alstom (nuclear technology and others), by US company General Electric. France government had a national security interest with a special clause to veto selling companies of critical interest [to the nation]. Thanks to some government officials recommendations (Macron), the President Hollande Administration officially stated the “OK” to sell it to the US.
The documentary is keen to point out that US inherently threatened [made blackmail] to french authorities. Maybe for not participating in NATO illegal wars lead by the US. So the US rejected selling some components needed for the french military to do maintenance on aircraft carriers. This denial supposed to stop using those expensive ships. Creating severe problems for the army. Conclusion: the US no longer acts as an ally, but as an enemy. Maybe to force France to kneel and accept the role of a colony (or a state in the US federation). Not strange though to see how EU companies are trying to sell ownership to other countries (even Russia and/or China). A valid reaction to flee US predator practices.
The video at the end points out that US groups are now showing interest in the acquisition of other 4-5 big french companies (even banks). Clearly showing a pattern to buy the entire country. By selling critical companies to run the country, directly to US handlers. Consider France was hijacked by Macron (and the 5 banks that financed their campaign in just 6 months). It is easy to conclude that France now will participate in US lead world wars. Because they no longer have a country, just a very large state within the US federation.
No wonder why “Marine Le Pen” went to Russia and had a meeting with President Putin. She should know what is going on with the US. So she see Russia as real ally, not as a foe.
[See I merge here information with my opinion embedded].