Marine Commandant Eric Smith told Congress that the Marines deployed to Los Angeles to help quell the riots wouldn’t engage with rioters without proper crowd control training.

Smith appeared on Wednesday alongside Navy Secretary John Phelan and other military heads in front of the House Armed Services Committee. Democrats on the committee pressed Smith on the deployment of about 700 Marines to Los Angeles.

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Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) made the first line of inquiry, expressing concern about the speed with which the Marines were deployed and asking what rules of engagement they were given.

“We’re using the standing rules for the use of force … these rules emphasize de-escalation, use of nonlethal force, and the inherent right of self-defense for Marines and others,” Smith replied, pledging to provide the written rules for the committee.

“These are rules that we would use in any number of situations. Marines have training in crowd control, and they have these rules for embassy reinforcement. They have these rules for nonlethal situations, and they’re trained to them,” he added.

Later, Smith said the Marines had been given a “couple days” of relevant training and were undergoing more. He said he wasn’t involved in the decision to deploy the Marines to Los Angeles but did help choose who to deploy. No further deployments of Marines have been discussed.

Reps. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) pressed Smith on the wider implications of the deployment of Marines to help suppress a riot, saying that the move reflected the increasing politicization of the military. Carbajal asked the general if he believed any further mobilizations would erode public trust in the Marine Corps.

“I think the Marines are going to conduct themselves with the same dignity and professionalism that they always conduct themselves with, and they will continue to bring credit to the Marine Corps regardless of the mission they’re assigned,” Smith responded.

The general further clarified that the Marines cannot fire warning shots under the current rules of engagement.

LAPD CHIEF SAYS DEPARTMENT NOT NOTIFIED OF MARINE ARRIVAL, COULD PRESENT ‘SIGNIFICANT’ CHALLENGES

President Donald Trump ordered about 700 Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division to Los Angeles after riots continued following Sunday’s deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. U.S. Northern Command said it would “seamlessly integrate” with the National Guard members already stationed in the city to protect federal property and personnel.

The Trump administration announced the deployment of another 2,000 National Guard troops on Monday, bringing the total number of deployed military forces to about 4,700.