The United States announced today that it would overhaul its effort to support Syria’s rebels battling Islamic State, saying it would provide arms and equipment to vetted rebel leaders and their units, in a move that may allow an expansion of US aid.
According to Reuters News Agency, the US announcement marked a departure from a previous program to train and equip units of fighters at sites outside of Syria, after that program’s disastrous launch this year fanned criticism of President Barack Obama’s war strategy.
“Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is now directing the Department of Defense to provide equipment packages and weapons to a select group of vetted leaders and their units so that over time they can make a concerted push into territory still controlled by ISIL,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement, using an acronym for Islamic State.
