A first group of 90 Syrian fighters have begun training with US troops in Jordan. The Pentagon forecasts it will take three years to train and arm thousands of moderate Syrian forces.
A spokesman for the government of Jordan said military training for the first group of 90 Syrians began several days ago. About 350 of the 450 coalition forces involved in conducting the training are US troops. The training is being carried out at four sites in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. Turkish officials have said that instruction would start there this weekend, DW reported.
The Pentagon has said it will take three years to train and arm more than 15,000 opposition forces. “We’re starting with the people that we have that we’ve vetted very carefully,” US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday. More than 3,750 Syrian fighters have volunteered for the training, and about 400 have completed the prescreening.
The rebel fighters come from several moderate groups in Syria. They will be given training on basic military equipment and skills, including firearms, communications and command and control abilities.
Meanwhile, Hungary said it will send 150 soldiers to Iraq as part of international efforts to “eliminate” the IS group,
“ISIL is a threat to the whole world. We can eliminate this threat only by working together and as a result of effective work by the United Nations,” said Hungary’s foreign and trade minister, Peter Szijjarto.
