US President Barack Obama will authorize US troops to train selected Syrian rebels, in order to counter the rising power of Al-Qaeda-linked extremists, according to media reports.
The White House did not confirm or deny the plan, but said it was “constantly considering available options to combat the terrorist threat emanating from Syria and to facilitate an end to the crisis.”
“The current policy approach continues to be strengthening the moderate opposition, which offers an alternative to the brutal Assad regime and the more extremist elements within the opposition,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
Obama may announce the new US position during a speech Wednesday at the West Point military academy.
“The president will make clear his intention to expand our support to the moderate Syrian operation and increase our support to Syria’s neighbors, who are dealing with the terrorist threats emanating from the situation Assad has created in Syria,” a senior administration official told the media. The president will not give details on how many rebels would be trained nor where their training would take place, the report said.
