WORLD_ Islamic State: United States and Turkey sign deal to train Syria opposition fighters, officials say

ABC NEWS

Islamic State: United States and Turkey sign deal to train Syria opposition fighters, officials say

ABC
Friday, 20 February 2015
Posted about an hour ago

The United States and Turkey have signed a deal to train and equip Syrian opposition forces, officials say.

The US military said it plans to send more than 400 troops to train Syrian moderates at sites outside Syria as part of the fight against Islamic State militants.

"I can confirm that the agreement was signed this evening in Ankara," a US embassy spokesman said.

A Turkish government official said the deal was inked by Turkey's foreign ministry undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and US ambassador to Ankara John Bass.

US officials have said that under the plan, the US will train about 5,000 fighters from the Free Syrian Army a year for three years.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have publicly offered to host training sites.

Turkey hopes the training will also bolster the weakened and divided Syrian opposition in their war against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

The Free Syrian Army is seen by Turkey as a key actor in Syria's conflict, but the group has been driven by divisions and suffered setbacks at the hands of government forces and other rebel factions.

Turkey shares a 1,200 kilometre border with Iraq and Syria, where IS militants have continued their insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate.

Ankara has been a reluctant partner in the US-led coalition against IS, pushing instead for a more comprehensive strategy that includes Mr Assad's removal from power.

A deal between Ankara and Washington would be a positive development between the two longstanding allies, despite strains over Middle Eastern policy.

Reuters/AFP 

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