US Pledges to Protect Vetted Syrian Opposition

© East News / Nish NalbandianSyrian Revolutionaries Front is a moderate Syrian Opposition group fighting against both the Syrian Army and The Islamic State
Syrian Revolutionaries Front is a moderate Syrian Opposition group fighting against both the Syrian Army  and The Islamic State - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL stated that the US would equip and protect the vetted Syrian opposition.

A group of Syrian rebels supported by US politicians for their “moderate” position, and who received US military equipment, has disbanded after heavy losses. - Sputnik International
America's Favorite 'Moderate' Syrian Group Disbands
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States will protect the vetted Syrian opposition, following its training and equipping to fight the Islamic State, General John Allen, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL stated during a discussion at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC.

"It [vetting] is of course an issue we must pass through, and ultimately successfully completing the training, then successfully protecting that force, so that it does have operational capabilities," Allen said on Monday.

"It's clearly part of our plan. Not only will we train them, but we will equip them with the latest weapons systems, but we will also protect them when the time comes," Allen said.

When asked how they are going to deploy 5,000 vetted Syrian rebels inside Syria without any ground or air cover, with no safe corridors, and with no fly zones, Allen underlined that all these things were under consideration.

The General also stressed that they have been pleasantly surprised with the numbers that have been interested now in signing up for vetting.

"We are pleased with the numbers that have said that they want to be part of this," Allen said.

The United States and its allies plan to train and equip some 5,000 Syrian opposition fighters as part of their efforts to battle the ISIL.

On February 19, US Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby announced that the United States has been screening about 1,200 moderate Syrian rebels as candidates for a US training program.

The program that focuses on basic military equipment and skills will start once the training sights are ready, according to the Pentagon.

In January, the Defense Department announced that an advance team of about 100 US troops was deployed in the Middle East to survey and prepare training locations.

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State began carrying out airstrikes in Iraq in August, expanding the air campaign to Syria in September, though without Syrian government approval.

The ISIL, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a Sunni military group that has taken over large portions of Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала