Russia has criticized the United States decision to send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to protect oil fields.<br />''<br />'' Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said what Washington is doing now, the seizure and control of oil fields in eastern Syria under its armed control, is, quite simply, international state banditry.<br />'' <br />'' US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the move is aimed at keeping the fields from potentially falling into the hands of Islamic State militants.<br />'' <br />'' The decision was the latest sign that extracting the US military from Syria is more uncertain and complicated than President Donald Trump has made it out to be.<br />'' <br />'' On Saturday, there were several troop movements in Syria as the various players adjusted to the US decision to withdraw troops from the northeast. <br />''