US provides armored cars to Syrian anti-Islamic State forces for first time

The United States has for the first time supplied up-armored vehicles to the Arab component of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria, a US defense official confirmed Tuesday.

Though the supply came under the administration of President Donald Trump, it was allowed by rules first enacted by his predecessor Barack Obama.

"We have provided armored Sport Utility Vehicles to the Syrian Arab Coalition using existing authorities, in the interest of helping protect our partnered force from the (IS) improvised-explosive device threat," US military spokesman Colonel John Dorrian told AFP.

"The decision was made by military commanders, and has been in the works for some time," Dorrian said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance include the Kurdish YPG militia, which has been the US-led coalition against the Islamic State's main partner on the ground. The YPG also has ties to the Kurdish PKK party, which Turkey considers a terrorist group.
 [i24news.tv/AFP]
31/1/17
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