Turkey to support training, equipping Syrian opposition: US

Turkey to support training, equipping Syrian opposition: US

WASHINGTON - Reuters
Turkey to support training, equipping Syrian opposition: US

A rebel fighter fires his weapon during what the rebels said were clashes with ISIL fighters at the frontline in Aleppo's northern countryside on Oct. 10. REUTERS/Jalal Al-Mamo

Turkey has agreed to support the training and equipping of the moderate opposition in Syria, the U.S. State Department said on Oct. 10, saying a U.S. military team would visit Ankara next week to discuss the matter.

"Turkey has agreed to support train-and-equip efforts for the moderate Syrian opposition," spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters in describing a visit to Turkey by the two senior U.S. officials responsible for building a coalition to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

"There will be a [U.S. Defense Department] planning team traveling to Ankara next week to continue planning that through military channels," she added.