News / Military

US supplys arms to Arab fighters in Syria: Report

Thursday, 17 December 2015 11:06 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 17 December 2015 11:06 AM ]

The so-called Syrian Democratic Force coalition took control of the northeastern town of al-Hol, in the Syrian Hasakah province on November 14, 2015. (AFP photo)

The United States has provided Arab forces in Syria with arms and ammunition for the third time since October, as the fighters prepare to get into battle with Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in the strategic town of al-Shadadi near the Iraqi border, officials say.

US officials told Reuters on Wednesday that the weapons were shipped into Syria over land in recent days to Arab forces fighting against ISIL in al-Shadadi, the northeast part of Syria.

According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the fighters were preparing to move toward al-Shadadi. Recapturing the town would reportedly help isolate the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Daesh terrorist group.

The Arab fighters used al-Shadadi to stage weapons, equipment and personnel for distribution throughout the battlefield, US Army Colonel Steve Warren said.

There are almost 5,000 Arab fighters in Syria, who along with the Kurdish fighters and others, founded the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces to take Syrian territories back from Daesh.

In October, President Barack Obama decided to send 50 Special Operations troops to northern Syria to “assist and advise” militant forces battling Daesh.

Since the Syrian conflict started in 2011, the US and its allies have also been providing military and financial aid to militants fighting the Syrian government.

The Pentagon has on several occasions airdropped weapons for militants. Some of the weapons have ended up in the hands of Daesh terrorists.

Amnesty International reported last week that Daesh has developed a substantial lethal arsenal from US-made weapons and equipment they captured from the Iraqi military and fighters.

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