US President Barack Obama has requested a budget of $1.5 billion from Congress with the aim of supporting the “fight against terrorism” in Syria and promoting “stability” in the Middle East region, according to National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden.
Hayden issued a statement on Thursday saying that the allocated budget would be used to “defend US interests and strengthen the capacity of our friends and partners”, including Syria’s neighbours Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.
Hayden said that $500 million would be specifically allocated “for a proposed authority to train and equip appropriately vetted elements of the moderate Syrian armed opposition.”
In the statement, she claimed that, “These funds would help defend the Syrian people, stabilise areas under opposition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats, and promote conditions for a negotiated settlement.”