U.S. begins training Syrian rebels to fight ISIS

The U.S. has begun training Syrian rebels in Jordan to fight on the ground against the Islamic State, military officials said Thursday.

The Obama administration said earlier this year it would send 400 soldiers to the region to train an estimated 15,000 foreign fighters to combat ISIS. However, the long process of vetting would-be fighters to strip potential extremists from the recruit pool delayed the start of training.

Jordan is the first of four nations slated to host training, with Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia next in line.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up