Soldiers, Bradley armored vehicles in Kuwait eyed for deployment to Syria

The Pentagon is planning to send soldiers and Bradley armored vehicles based in Kuwait to guard Syrian oil fields from ISIS fighters, according to a U.S. official.

The deployment is in the planning stages and initially will involve less than a battalion of soldiers, the official, who is not authorized to speak publicly, said Friday. A battalion has about 400 soldiers.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters in Brussels on Friday that "mechanized forces" would be sent to northeastern Syria to defend oil fields, an apparent reference to Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Bradleys are armored vehicles that move on tracks like a tank. Each vehicle has a 25mm cannon and can fire missiles.

Read the full story and more in USA Today.