The U.S. Defense Department has started arming Syrian Kurds in their fight against the Islamic State (IS), despite strong objections of the Turkish government, according to U.S. media.
Citing two Pentagon officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, NBC News reported on Tuesday that the provision of the military equipment began in the last 24 hours.
So far, it remained unknown what the Pentagon was sending to the Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Currently, the U.S.-led coalition against the IS is backing the SDF, comprised of mostly the People’s Protection Units (YPG) Kurds and some local Arabs.
Early this month, U.S. President Donald Trump approved a plan to arm Syrian Kurds.
The approval for the plan came despite strong objections of the Turkish government, which views the Kurdish fighters as terrorists.
The Turkish government has made clear their objection to the U.S. of arming Syrian Kurds, whom Ankara has regarded as Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) inside Turkey, which calls for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
