U.S. Military To Provide Additional Weaponry For Syrian Opposition Forces Fighting Islamic State
On Wednesday, the U.S. military stated that they are leaning toward supplying additional weapons to Syrian opposition forces in combat with the Islamic State following last week's territorial gains by the Syrian fighters, reported Reuters Nov. 4.
Baghdad-based spokesman Colonel Steve Warren for the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State noted that Democratic Forces of Syria, including fighters from Syrian Arab Coalition, had regained 255 square kilometers around al-Haul village from the Islamic State.
On Oct. 12, CNN reported that the Syrian Arab Coalition received 50 tons of U.S. ammunition from the U.S. military cargo plane through an air drop of 112 pallets.
C-17s reportedly dropped small weaponry and other items, such as hand grenades, in Hasakah province in northern Syria, accompanied by fighter escort aircraft.
A U.S. official confirmed that the pallets were all received by friendly forces.
Col. Warren stated that the recent operation by the Democratic Forces of Syria was backed by 17 U.S.-led coalition air strikes, which led to the death of 79 Islamic State fighters and the destruction of Islamic State weapons system around al-Houl.
"While this is not a large tactical action, we believe the operation demonstrates the viability of our program to provide support to these forces," said Warren to Pentagon reporters.
When asked about supplying more weaponry to Syrian opposition forces, Warren replied, "On the weapons resupply, yes. The answer is yes."
The Wall Street Journal noted on Nov. 4 that the U.S. and its allies have all agreed to provide more shipments of weapons and other military supplies to Syrian fighters battling the Islamic State.
However, deliveries from the Central Intelligence Agency, Saudi Arabia and other allied spy services have increased tensions between Syrian forces, despite U.S. President Barack Obama's plea to avoid making the conflict a U.S.-Russia proxy war.
The strategy of the White House now in Syria has shifted from training fighters overseas to supplying
Forces headed by U.S.-vetted commanders.
U.S. officials emphasized that the forces would not be involved in front-line combat.
