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UK to resume training Syrian opposition

October 26, 2016 at 2:03 pm

The British government will resume training members of the moderate Syrian opposition to fight Daesh, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced yesterday.

Speaking ahead of a Counter Daesh Ministerial meeting in Paris, France, Fallon said that “up to 20 UK personnel would deploy to locations in the region but outside Syria to provide vetted members of moderate Syrian opposition groups with the skills they need to continue to take the fight to Daesh.”

“Daesh are the back foot. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is already playing a leading role in the air, hitting them hard in Iraq and Syria.”

He added: “Now we are stepping up our support by training moderate opposition forces outside Syria in the skills they need to defeat Daesh.”

Explaining what exactly the UK personnel are going to do, the defence ministry said: “The training will focus on basic infantry tactics, command and control, explosive hazard awareness training (EHAT) and medical training.”

It also noted the Fallon’s announcement came after a US request for the UK to provide support for their Train and Equip Programme, which recently restarted in July 2016.

The defence ministry statement noted that “all volunteers from the moderate opposition will be subject to strict vetting procedures and will receive training in international humanitarian law.”

“Trainees will be security and medically screened prior to the start of training and will be assessed during and monitored after training.”