Pentagon Forges Training Plan for Syrian Opposition

As many as 1,000 U.S. troops could be called upon to train and support Syrian opposition forces, the Pentagon announced Jan. 16. Training could begin as early as this spring, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said at a Pentagon press briefing. The 1,000-person cadre would include trainers and support personnel. Persons assigned to the duty should begin receiving notification in the coming weeks. The mission would take place in a number of yet-unnamed sites in the region, Kirby said. The fighters would face careful vetting before any training should begin, he added. Once training is complete, their mission would be to fight and defeat the Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).