Britain through Defence Minister, Michael Fallon on Thursday said that they would be providing military training to ‘Syrian moderate opposition forces’ that are fighting the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.
Fallon said that the UK would send 75 military trainers and headquarters staff who will provide training in infantry tactics, medical skill and the use of small arms. The training is aimed at equipping the group that is fighting the Islamic State with the necessary skills required to survive in the warzone.
The training is part of a program that is led by the US to aid the moderate opposition in the country. The training is expected to kick off in a few weeks in Turkey and is expected to run for three years.
The primary aim of the training is to train screened opposition members to defend themselves and their communities against the ISIL before they help in the major offensive against the group.
In his statement, Fallon said, “ISIL must be defeated in both Iraq and Syria … defeating ISIL ultimately lies with local forces and we are helping to create effective ground forces in Syria, as well as in Iraq, so they can take the fight to ISIL,”
UK would also send 2 Sentinel air-crafts that will conduct surveillance over Iraq that will work in collaboration with the Tornado jets and the Reaper drones that are directing airstrikes at ISIL in Iraq.
