Ankara has asked Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford to help with training and arming Sunni Arab fighters inside Syria, The Wall Street Journal reported citing military officials.
The request was made during Dunford’s visit to Turkey last week.
If the Pentagon gives the green light to the request this would significantly strengthen the US position in the region. This would also comprise another effort by Washington to train and equip fighters in Syria, after the previously failed campaign.
Last year, Washington labeled as ineffective and terminated a $500-million program to train 15,000 Syrian moderate opposition fighters to fight Daesh.
Turkey has not provided details on the talks between Turkish officials and Dunford. According to the article, Turkey has already chosen the Sunni groups who have expressed willingness to secure the border with Syria.
In turn, Dunford said he was considering the proposal and would soon submit it to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. According to WSJ, the plan includes a small groups of fighters. Dunford rejected to give details on their number but said the US would independently check the fighters before training and equipping them.
