The US military has commenced the training of Syrian rebels in order to strengthen the battle against Islamic State, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
"We are announcing today that combat training has begun for a company size group of the new Syrian forces. This programme is critical and a complex part of our counter ISIL efforts."
The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter said that about 90 Syrian fighters were being trained and their training paid for by the US. The training of a second group of fighters will commence soon, he added.
According to the BBC, training camps are being set up in secure sites in Jordan, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Making clear that the fighters were being trained in order to fight IS and not President Assad's forces, Mr Carter said: "the question arises if Assad's forces undertake to engage them, would we have some responsibility towards them, and as I indicated, yes we would. But they are not being fielded for that purpose they are being fielded to engaging ISIS. That would be their principle mission."
"We are announcing today that combat training has begun for a company size group of the new Syrian forces. This programme is critical and a complex part of our counter ISIL efforts."
The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter said that about 90 Syrian fighters were being trained and their training paid for by the US. The training of a second group of fighters will commence soon, he added.
According to the BBC, training camps are being set up in secure sites in Jordan, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Making clear that the fighters were being trained in order to fight IS and not President Assad's forces, Mr Carter said: "the question arises if Assad's forces undertake to engage them, would we have some responsibility towards them, and as I indicated, yes we would. But they are not being fielded for that purpose they are being fielded to engaging ISIS. That would be their principle mission."