Marines land in Syria to fire artillery in the fight for Raqqa

WASHINGTON — Marines from an amphibious task force have left their ships in the Middle East and deployed to Syria, establishing an outpost from which they can fire artillery guns in support of the fight to take back the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State, defense officials said.

The deployment marks another escalation in the U.S. war in Syria, and puts conventional U.S. troops in the battle there. Several hundred Special Operations troops have advised local forces there for months, but the Pentagon has shied away from using conventional forces in Syria.

The force is part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which left San Diego on Navy ships in October. The deployed Marines include part of an artillery battery that can fire powerful 155-mm shells from M777 Howitzers, two officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deployment.

The expeditionary unit’s ground force, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, will man the guns and deliver fire support for U.S.-backed local forces who are preparing an assault on the city. Additional infantrymen from the unit are likely to provide security.

The new mission was disclosed after members of the Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment appeared in the northern Syrian city of Manbij over the weekend in Strykers, heavily armed, eight-wheel armored vehicles.

Defense officials said they are there to discourage Syrian or Turkish troops from taking any moves that could shift the focus away from an assault on Islamic State militants.