UK to Send 75 Military Advisors to Train Syrian ‘Moderate Opposition’

According to the defense ministry's press release, the UK will send about 75 military trainers and staff to teach use of small arms, infantry tactics and medical skills to local opposition forces as part of a US-led program. The training takes three years and prepares and equips thousands of hand-picked members of Syrian opposition.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The UK will train "moderate opposition forces" in Syria to help defend the country against the Islamic State militant group, British Defense Ministry said Thursday.

"In Syria, coalition airstrikes have supported the liberation of Kobane and have disrupted ISIL's logistics and supply lines. However, defeating ISIL ultimately lies with local forces and we are helping to create effective ground forces in Syria, as well as in Iraq, so they can take the fight to ISIL," Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said, as quoted in the press release.

The UK is part of a US-led international coalition, comprising more than 60 countries, conducting airstrikes on ISIL positions in both Syria and Iraq. The United States and its allies agreed to train and equip Syrian opposition fighters as part of their efforts to fight the Islamic State.

In January, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Washington expected the coalition-trained moderate opposition in Syria to fight against the country's president Bashar Assad, as well as the Islamic State militants.