US soldier faces criminal charges over firefight with Syrian regime

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Nicoson is accused of recklessly endangering his own men by allegedly bringing them into close contact with Syrian pro-regime forces.
US forces patrol in Syria
US forces patrol the area of the town of Tal Tamr, in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province, on Aug. 17, 2020. The US-led coalition in Syria said a patrol had come under attack and engaged in a firefight near a pro-government checkpoint in the country's northeast. - DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

A US Army soldier previously under consideration for military honors for his actions during a lethal skirmish with a Syrian pro-regime militia last year is now facing criminal charges over the incident.

The US military's allegations against Sgt. 1st Class Robert Nicoson of the 82nd Airborne Division include two counts of failure to obey a lawful order, two counts of reckless endangerment, one count of communicating threats and three counts of obstructing justice. The case was first reported by Army Times.

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