WEBVTT 00:00.191 --> 00:02.937 - [Interviewer] Colonel, thank you so much for joining us. 00:02.937 --> 00:05.342 I want to start out by talking about reports 00:05.342 --> 00:08.829 that the US has shot down an Iranian drone 00:08.829 --> 00:12.496 in Southern Syria, near the US base in Tanf. 00:13.746 --> 00:15.370 We've seen a lot of activity 00:15.370 --> 00:18.117 coming out of this base, recently, 00:18.117 --> 00:19.813 so clearly there's a lot of traffic 00:19.813 --> 00:22.443 in the skies above Southern Syria at the moment. 00:22.443 --> 00:25.104 I just wanted to ask you, is there a danger 00:25.104 --> 00:28.454 that this is escalating into a kind of conflict 00:28.454 --> 00:32.371 between the US and Iran, in this part of Syria? 00:35.078 --> 00:36.653 - Well, first off, that's certainly something 00:36.653 --> 00:39.027 that we do not want to happen. 00:39.027 --> 00:40.429 Our mission is clear 00:40.429 --> 00:44.179 and that is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. 00:44.355 --> 00:47.283 And, in Syria, in the particular location near At Tanf 00:47.283 --> 00:49.455 where this drone was shot down, 00:49.455 --> 00:53.622 that was the third time that the pro-regime elements 00:53.979 --> 00:57.063 have shown hostile intent towards our forces, 00:57.063 --> 01:01.230 so, last night, we did engage a Iranian-made drone 01:02.539 --> 01:05.206 that was advancing on our forces 01:05.457 --> 01:08.457 and it was shot down by US aircraft. 01:09.542 --> 01:10.645 - [Interviewer] And so, why do you think 01:10.645 --> 01:12.177 this is a recurring theme, 01:12.177 --> 01:14.401 that you have this recurring hostility? 01:14.401 --> 01:17.055 Why is this strategically important 01:17.055 --> 01:20.388 for forces aligned to the Syrian regime? 01:22.446 --> 01:25.574 - I certainly won't speak to the Syrian regime. 01:25.574 --> 01:28.443 I will speak to the coalition and that is, 01:28.443 --> 01:32.556 our goal and our number one reason is to defeat ISIS 01:32.556 --> 01:35.617 and to train our partner forces in the particular area. 01:35.617 --> 01:36.936 We've made it very clear 01:36.936 --> 01:40.008 that we do not want to engage the regime 01:40.008 --> 01:41.339 and we would like to be able 01:41.339 --> 01:45.041 to focus on our number one goal which is defeat ISIS. 01:45.041 --> 01:47.568 We have shown, several times, in the past 01:47.568 --> 01:51.318 and we have escalated the, from warning shots 01:51.505 --> 01:54.894 to shows of force through using a deconfliction line, 01:54.894 --> 01:57.878 this is something that we do not want to be focused on. 01:57.878 --> 01:59.953 We do not want to have to fight the regime. 01:59.953 --> 02:04.120 We want to be focused on our fight to defeat ISIS. 02:05.433 --> 02:06.445 - [Interviewer] Is it fair to say, though, 02:06.445 --> 02:10.193 that you're concerned, that it is a potential inevitability 02:10.193 --> 02:12.291 that you will be put into a position 02:12.291 --> 02:14.058 where you have to fight the regime 02:14.058 --> 02:17.141 and its various allies on the ground? 02:18.966 --> 02:21.431 - Well, we will continue to use the deconfliction line. 02:21.431 --> 02:25.264 We will continue to try to dissuade the regime 02:26.097 --> 02:28.145 from continuing acts of aggression, 02:28.145 --> 02:30.839 so that we can focus on our number one effort 02:30.839 --> 02:32.331 and that is to defeat ISIS. 02:32.331 --> 02:35.490 And, right now, that is in Raqqa, in Syria 02:35.490 --> 02:37.831 and that is their de facto capital 02:37.831 --> 02:40.945 and we want to continue to support and focus our efforts 02:40.945 --> 02:45.112 on defeating ISIS in Raqqa, their self-proclaimed caliphate. 02:47.716 --> 02:48.785 - [Interviewer] You bring up Raqqa 02:48.785 --> 02:51.035 and the deconfliction line. 02:51.304 --> 02:52.613 Of course, the US, last week, 02:52.613 --> 02:55.446 shot down a Syrian jet over Raqqa. 02:56.824 --> 02:58.304 The Russians are now saying 02:58.304 --> 03:02.278 that the deconfliction line of communication is closed, 03:02.278 --> 03:04.042 although the US is saying it's not. 03:04.042 --> 03:07.496 What can you tell us about the shooting down of this jet 03:07.496 --> 03:09.321 and how it may have impacted 03:09.321 --> 03:11.988 communication with the Russians? 03:13.835 --> 03:17.505 - Well, for the same reasons that the drone was shot down 03:17.505 --> 03:20.213 and the other incidents that have happened 03:20.213 --> 03:22.130 with the Syrian regime, 03:22.229 --> 03:26.146 this Su-22 Syrian jet had showed hostile intent 03:27.143 --> 03:31.310 and action by dropping bombs on coalition partner forces 03:32.789 --> 03:35.505 north of the deconfliction line that was agreed upon 03:35.505 --> 03:39.628 by the Syrian Democratic Forces commander on the ground 03:39.628 --> 03:43.461 and the Syrian regime commander on the ground. 03:43.786 --> 03:45.450 We are there to support our partners 03:45.450 --> 03:48.336 and they showed this hostile intent, 03:48.336 --> 03:50.452 and so we're gonna defend our partners, 03:50.452 --> 03:53.288 we're gonna defend our forces and we want to be focused 03:53.288 --> 03:57.038 on how our number one goal is defeating ISIS. 03:58.582 --> 04:00.838 - [Interviewer] I just would like to read you a quote 04:00.838 --> 04:03.491 from the Russians regarding this incident. 04:03.491 --> 04:06.078 They said, "Any errant objects found 04:06.078 --> 04:07.948 "west of the Euphrates River 04:07.948 --> 04:10.567 "including aircraft and unmanned vehicles 04:10.567 --> 04:14.168 "belonging to the international coalition will be escorted 04:14.168 --> 04:18.335 "by Russian air and ground defenses as air targets." 04:18.921 --> 04:23.088 Your response to that, do you see that as a threat? 04:23.879 --> 04:26.282 - Well, that was the first statement that came out. 04:26.282 --> 04:28.285 There was a second statement that came out 04:28.285 --> 04:30.368 that was not as poignant 04:31.491 --> 04:34.378 and I will say that we will always be available 04:34.378 --> 04:36.739 to use the deconfliction line with the Russians. 04:36.739 --> 04:38.965 It has proven it's worth in the past, 04:38.965 --> 04:40.715 to tamp down tensions 04:41.788 --> 04:45.955 and to avoid any type of strategic miscalculations. 04:46.132 --> 04:48.206 So, we will continue to use that line. 04:48.206 --> 04:49.714 We are using that line 04:49.714 --> 04:51.999 and we will continue to focus our efforts 04:51.999 --> 04:54.332 on defeating ISIS in Syria. 04:56.829 --> 04:59.569 - [Interviewer] In all seriousness, though, is there a sense 04:59.569 --> 05:03.736 that there are escalating tensions in the skies over Syria? 05:07.808 --> 05:10.696 - Oh, we are always going to be very mindful 05:10.696 --> 05:13.052 of the very congested and complex 05:13.052 --> 05:14.504 battle space that is Syria 05:14.504 --> 05:16.835 and we will go through extraordinary measures 05:16.835 --> 05:20.308 to make sure that our air crews and our ground forces 05:20.308 --> 05:22.307 and out partner forces on the ground 05:22.307 --> 05:24.807 are being covered and are safe 05:25.480 --> 05:28.469 and have all the means to defend ourselves. 05:28.469 --> 05:32.636 We do not have a fight with the regime, with Russians. 05:33.239 --> 05:35.050 Our number one focus is on ISIS, 05:35.050 --> 05:37.508 which is the number one threat 05:37.508 --> 05:40.271 in not just Iraq and Syria and to the region, 05:40.271 --> 05:42.688 but to the rest of the world. 05:43.919 --> 05:46.447 - [Interviewer] I want to touch, as well, if you will, 05:46.447 --> 05:49.447 on the coalition airstrikes on Raqqa 05:50.457 --> 05:52.374 and other ISIS-held territory. 05:52.374 --> 05:54.812 The UN coming out with a statement saying 05:54.812 --> 05:57.860 that there have been enormous amount of civilian casualties, 05:57.860 --> 05:59.474 I'd like you, if you wouldn't mind, 05:59.474 --> 06:00.648 to listen to the statement 06:00.648 --> 06:04.815 and then I'll ask you for comment on it afterwards. 06:05.139 --> 06:06.500 - [UN Investigator] We note in particular 06:06.500 --> 06:09.741 that the intensification of air strikes, 06:09.741 --> 06:13.908 which have paved the ground for an SDF advance in Raqqa, 06:15.068 --> 06:19.235 has resulted not only staggering loss of civilian life, 06:19.751 --> 06:22.834 but has also led to 160,000 civilians 06:24.292 --> 06:28.459 fleeing their homes and becoming internally displaced. 06:28.832 --> 06:30.279 - [Interviewer] You heard the words there, 06:30.279 --> 06:32.392 "staggering loss of life." 06:32.392 --> 06:34.226 Do you think that's a fair assessment 06:34.226 --> 06:35.537 and are you comfortable 06:35.537 --> 06:39.704 with the US military being held accountable for that? 06:40.938 --> 06:43.500 - Although, I certainly do not believe 06:43.500 --> 06:46.200 and agree with that particular statement 06:46.200 --> 06:48.731 and we go through extraordinary measures 06:48.731 --> 06:52.762 to make sure that we always take into account civilians 06:52.762 --> 06:56.094 and civilian structures when we conduct our strikes, 06:56.094 --> 06:57.844 the staggering losses 06:58.632 --> 07:01.799 that this claim has made are unfounded 07:03.015 --> 07:06.182 and we are always open and transparent 07:06.587 --> 07:08.870 with our civilian casualty assessments 07:08.870 --> 07:11.031 and we come out very openly 07:11.031 --> 07:14.531 with those assessments on a monthly basis. 07:15.704 --> 07:17.641 - [Interviewer] And, do you find, those assessments, 07:17.641 --> 07:21.641 have you found that the numbers are indeed high? 07:23.280 --> 07:27.030 - Those numbers, currently, right now, is 484 07:28.503 --> 07:32.003 since we began the campaign to defeat ISIS 07:33.537 --> 07:35.287 in Iraq and in Syria. 07:39.834 --> 07:41.778 - [Interviewer] So, you would say that the UN is wrong 07:41.778 --> 07:43.861 when they say staggering? 07:45.875 --> 07:47.361 - I would say that the UN is wrong 07:47.361 --> 07:49.792 when they bring up this number 07:49.792 --> 07:53.959 and there was, cited in this particular same announcement, 07:55.551 --> 07:59.047 of a civilian casualty allegation that is not true 07:59.047 --> 08:01.529 and this was in the Al-Mansur neighborhood 08:01.529 --> 08:04.821 and we will come out and provide that information 08:04.821 --> 08:07.904 in our next civilian casualty report. 08:07.944 --> 08:11.027 That will show that that is not true. 08:12.492 --> 08:13.953 - [Interviewer] Okay, well, we will be looking out 08:13.953 --> 08:15.074 for that report, Colonel Dillon. 08:15.074 --> 08:18.657 Thank you so much for being on the program. 08:18.989 --> 08:20.072 - Thank you.