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Pentagon mulls allowing Kurdish militias to keep weapons after US withdrawal from Syria – report
Published time: 29 Dec, 2018 08:26
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FILE PHOTO: YPG fighters © Reuters / Rodi Said
US commanders preparing for the troop pullout from Syria have recommended that Kurdish militias be allowed to keep weapons and equipment provided by the US military, according to American officials who spoke with Reuters. The Pentagon is mulling the possibility as it draws up its plan for exiting Syria. A final decision on the matter will have to be approved by President Donald Trump, who ordered the withdrawal of all US forces from Syria earlier this month.
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Turkey & Russia ministers to talk Syria as Damascus claims its troops entered Kurdish-held Manbij
The US began supplying arms and military hardware to YPG fighters in May 2017, ahead of an offensive to take Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
The United States told Turkey that Kurdish fighters would be required to return their US-supplied weapons after the defeat of IS. However, one official who spoke with Reuters said that locating all the weapons and securing their return would be close to impossible. Another unnamed official argued that it would be irresponsible to demand the weapons back, since the Kurdish YPG are still clearing out the remnants of Islamic State from northeastern Syria.
The situation is further complicated by Turkish threats to launch an offensive against the YPG, which Ankara claims is a terrorist group. Turkish military forces were spotted crossing into Syria on Friday.
Also on rt.com US helicopters spotted over Manbij as Turkish forces enter Syria (VIDEOS)
On the same day, the Syrian Army reportedly entered the Kurdish stronghold of Manbij, after the YPG called on Damascus to help defend the city from a Turkish attack.
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Pentagon mulls allowing Kurdish militias to keep weapons after US withdrawal from Syria – report
Published time: 29 Dec, 2018 08:26
Get short URL
FILE PHOTO: YPG fighters © Reuters / Rodi Said
- 18
US commanders preparing for the troop pullout from Syria have recommended that Kurdish militias be allowed to keep weapons and equipment provided by the US military, according to American officials who spoke with Reuters. The Pentagon is mulling the possibility as it draws up its plan for exiting Syria. A final decision on the matter will have to be approved by President Donald Trump, who ordered the withdrawal of all US forces from Syria earlier this month.
Read more
Turkey & Russia ministers to talk Syria as Damascus claims its troops entered Kurdish-held Manbij The US began supplying arms and military hardware to YPG fighters in May 2017, ahead of an offensive to take Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
The United States told Turkey that Kurdish fighters would be required to return their US-supplied weapons after the defeat of IS. However, one official who spoke with Reuters said that locating all the weapons and securing their return would be close to impossible. Another unnamed official argued that it would be irresponsible to demand the weapons back, since the Kurdish YPG are still clearing out the remnants of Islamic State from northeastern Syria.
The situation is further complicated by Turkish threats to launch an offensive against the YPG, which Ankara claims is a terrorist group. Turkish military forces were spotted crossing into Syria on Friday.
Also on rt.com US helicopters spotted over Manbij as Turkish forces enter Syria (VIDEOS)
On the same day, the Syrian Army reportedly entered the Kurdish stronghold of Manbij, after the YPG called on Damascus to help defend the city from a Turkish attack.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
