U.S. To Send 1,000 Troops To Help Train Syrian Rebels Against ISIS

Monica Cantilero Sunday, January 18, 2015

A rebel fighter from the Free Syrian Army's Al Rahman legion holds an improvised explosive near the frontline against forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Jobar, a suburb of Damascus, on Jan. 5, 2015. | REUTERS/Diaa Al-Din

The Pentagon is ready to send up to 1,000 soldiers and personnel to train Syrian rebels against the Islamic State (ISIS), spokesman Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a press briefing on Friday.

Troops who will be deployed include not only trainers but support personnel as well, Kirby said, adding that forces will range from special operations to conventional.

"I think several hundred trainers. I think you will also look at -- it could be about a like number of enablers and support personnel. So all told, the number total for this mission could approach 1,000. It might even exceed that. I would -- I can't rule that out," said Kirby.

The spokesman said training opposition forces has three main objectives. "One, to get them [Syrian rebels] prepared and able to defend their own communities and their own citizens and go back to their own towns and cities and help defend their neighbors," Kirby said.

"Two, to eventually go on the offensive against ISIS inside Syria. And three, to help work with political opposition leaders towards a political solution in Syria. That's -- that's what we're getting them ready to do," Kirby said.

Troops will be given orders as soon as "within the next week or so," he said, adding that the soldiers will "flow in" over the next four to six weeks.

Training is expected to take several months, but Syrian forces could be ready to enter the fight in Syria against the ISIS by the end of this year.

Training will be held in various sites in the region with "significant contributions," according to the U.S. Department of Defense. A report by RT named three different training sites: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.

Syrian opposition forces will be carefully selected, Kirby said. "There will be a significant vetting program in place, multi-layered, and one that is implemented over the course of the training to make sure we're dealing with individuals and units that are trustworthy."

The spokesman said information and intelligence from the area and from partner nations in the region will be included in the vetting process.