The Elder Statement : U.S. Pulls Plug On Syria Rebel Training Effort; Will Focus On Weapons Supply

U.S. Pulls Plug On Syria Rebel Training Effort; Will Focus On Weapons Supply

By Phil Stewart , Oct 09, 2013 Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States will largely abandon its failed efforts to train moderate Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State, and instead provide arms and equipment directly to rebel leaders and their units on the battlefield, the Obama administration said on Friday.

The U.S. announcement marked the effective end to a short-lived $580 million program to train and equip units of fighters at sites outside of Syria, after its disastrous launch this year fanned criticism of President Barack Obama's war strategy.

The Pentagon said it would shift its focus away from training to providing weapons and other equipment to rebel groups whose leaders have passed a U.S. vetting process to ensure they are not linked to militant Islamist groups.

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