Turkey to support training, equipping Syrian opposition

Moderate opposition in Syria will be involved in trainings supported by the U.S.

Turkey has agreed to support the training and equipping of the moderate opposition in Syria, the U.S. State Department said on Oct. 10, saying a U.S. military team would visit Ankara next week to discuss the matter, Hurriyyet Daily News reports.

"Turkey has agreed to support train-and-equip efforts for the moderate Syrian opposition," spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters in describing a visit to Turkey by the two senior U.S. officials responsible for building a coalition to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

At the initial stage, about 2 000 Syrians will be involved in military training in Turkey. Turkish and U.S. military specialists will conduct trainings together and separately. Turkish National Intelligence Organization will select Syrian citizens, who will take part in trainings, and it will prevent the participation of radicals, as well as people related with PKK and PYD, the Syrian branch of the PKK in trainings. The Syrians will be mainly supplied with ammunition, uniforms, and other military equipment by the U.S. and Turkey will provide partial support. Following the completion of training for 2000 people, trainings will be continued periodically in groups of 400 people.  

Bakudaily.Az