WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has started combat training of Syrian opposition forces, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said during a press briefing on Thursday.
“Combat training has begun for a company size group of new Syrian forces,” Carter said. “The program is a critical and complex part of our counter ISIL [Islamic State] efforts.”
Carter added that a second group of Syrian soldiers will begin training in a couple of weeks.
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 Islamic State.
