The U.S. is now providing airpower to Syrian rebels trained by Washington and its allies, and will do so against competing rebels as well as Syrian government forces.
The decision by President Barack Obama could potentially further Washington's stake in the Syrian conflict, and drag the U.S. deeper into ongoing hostilities – something that the Obama administration has been reluctant to do.
Citing anonymous government officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. would provide airpower to U.S.-trained Syrian opposition forces in their fight against Daesh, but would also carry out airstrikes against any attackers.
The decision comes as Washington and Ankara prepare to clear Daesh militants from an area along the Turkish-Syrian border; and plan to send rebels that they have been training into the area.
The new rules would only apply to U.S.-trained forces in northern Syria, and would not apply to U.S.-backed forces in southern Syria.
The Obama administration declined to publicly confirm the report, but a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, told Anadolu Agency that he would not dismiss the Journal's report, but said that it overplays the connection to recent talks with Turkey.
The U.S. first carried out airstrikes in support of the Syrian fighters on Friday when they were attacked by the Nusra Front, according to the Journal.
National Security Council spokesman Alistair Baskey said that the Syrian rebels that Washington has been training "are being provided with a wide range of coalition support in their mission to counter-ISIL, which includes defensive fires support to protect them".
"We won't get into the specifics of our rules of engagement, but have said all along that we would take the steps necessary to ensure that these forces could successfully carry out their mission," Baskey said. - Washington DC
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