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Pentagon allocates $300m to support Syria Democratic Forces

March 14, 2019 at 11:18 am

Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold their flag in Syria on 17 October, 2017 [BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images]

The Pentagon announced yesterday that it has allocated $300 million to support US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting Daesh as well as $250 million to secure the borders of Syria’s neighbours.

The funding is part of the 2020 budget.

The administration of US President Donald Trump asked Congress to allocate a total budget of $718.3 billion to the Pentagon.

READ: US general recommends arming, aiding Syrian fighters after pullout

According to budget documents, out of $718.3 billion; $544.5 billion has been allocated as a core budget while $173.8 billion is allocated for potential overseas operations known as the “war fund”.

Of the war fund, $9.2 billion has been allocated for urgent situations, including the wall that Trump is planning to build on the border with Mexico.

The US administration has reduced the training programme budget in Iraq and Syria from  $1.4 billion in 2018 to $1.045 billion.