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US looks to change flawed training for Syrian rebels US to abandon training for Syrian rebels
(35 minutes later)
The US will look at "different" approaches to its training programme for Syrian opposition groups, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has said. The US is to end its efforts to train new Syrian rebel forces and says it will shift to providing equipment and weapons to existing forces.
The $500 million programme was heavily criticised after it emerged that US-trained rebels had handed vehicles and ammunition over to extremists. Its $500m programme was heavily criticised after it emerged that US-trained rebels had handed vehicles and ammunition over to extremists.
Mr Carter denied a report by the New York Times that the Pentagon planned to abandon the programme entirely. It emerged last month that only four or five of the fighters were in Syria.
He said the president, Barack Obama, would give more details "shortly". The Pentagon says help will now be provided to "a select group of vetted leaders and their units".
The programme was supposed train and equip 5,400 fighters this year and a further 15,000 in 2016. But the Pentagon was forced to admit last month that only four or five of the fighters were still on the ground in Syria. The programme had aimed to train and equip 5,400 fighters this year and a further 15,000 in 2016.
Of the initial two groups sent into the country, the first was rounded up by Jabhat al-Nusrah, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, in July. The second handed much of its equipment over to the same group in September, reportedly in exchange for safe passage.Of the initial two groups sent into the country, the first was rounded up by Jabhat al-Nusrah, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, in July. The second handed much of its equipment over to the same group in September, reportedly in exchange for safe passage.
Quoting an anonymous Defence Department source, the New York Times reported that the US would no longer recruit Syrian rebels to go through its training programmes in Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.Quoting an anonymous Defence Department source, the New York Times reported that the US would no longer recruit Syrian rebels to go through its training programmes in Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.
Instead it would establish a smaller training centre in Turkey, where "enablers" - mostly leaders of opposition groups - would be taught operational manoeuvres like how to call in airstrikes, the newspaper said.Instead it would establish a smaller training centre in Turkey, where "enablers" - mostly leaders of opposition groups - would be taught operational manoeuvres like how to call in airstrikes, the newspaper said.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, Defence CorrespondentAnalysis: Jonathan Marcus, Defence Correspondent
The failure of the programme underscores the wider problem of the inability to create large and effective moderate forces on the ground.The failure of the programme underscores the wider problem of the inability to create large and effective moderate forces on the ground.
It will also have wider repercussions since the programme helped to coordinate support activities between the Americans, the Gulf States, Turkey, and Jordan.It will also have wider repercussions since the programme helped to coordinate support activities between the Americans, the Gulf States, Turkey, and Jordan.
The risk now is that those countries may push on with more separate initiatives backing individual client groups.The risk now is that those countries may push on with more separate initiatives backing individual client groups.
Washington was already limited in its ability to influence events on the ground. The failure of this initiative will reduce it even further.Washington was already limited in its ability to influence events on the ground. The failure of this initiative will reduce it even further.
Speaking in a joint press conference with his UK counterpart, Michael Fallon, Mr Carter denied reports that the programme was being closed down, but admitted that he "wasn't satisfied with the early efforts" of the training. Speaking in a joint press conference with his UK counterpart, Michael Fallon, Mr Carter admitted that he "wasn't satisfied with the early efforts" of the training.
The US was now looking at "different" ways to "enable capable, motivated forces on the ground to retake territory from ISIL and reclaim Syrian territory from extremism", he added, using another acronym for IS.The US was now looking at "different" ways to "enable capable, motivated forces on the ground to retake territory from ISIL and reclaim Syrian territory from extremism", he added, using another acronym for IS.
Russian missile 'malfunction'Russian missile 'malfunction'
Mr Carter also said there were indications that four Russian cruise missiles that crashed in Iran before reaching their targets in Syria had malfunctioned.Mr Carter also said there were indications that four Russian cruise missiles that crashed in Iran before reaching their targets in Syria had malfunctioned.
The defence secretary is the first US official to comment publicly on the reports that the Russian missiles crashed. Russia has denied the claim, saying all 26 missiles hit their targets.The defence secretary is the first US official to comment publicly on the reports that the Russian missiles crashed. Russia has denied the claim, saying all 26 missiles hit their targets.
The missiles were fired from the Caspian Sea some 1,500km (930 miles) away, their route taking them over over Iran and Iraq. They were launched in support of a major ground offensive by Syrian government troops in western Syria.The missiles were fired from the Caspian Sea some 1,500km (930 miles) away, their route taking them over over Iran and Iraq. They were launched in support of a major ground offensive by Syrian government troops in western Syria.
Mr Carter accused Russia of running "fundamentally flawed" operations in Syria which would "inflame the civil war and therefore extremism".Mr Carter accused Russia of running "fundamentally flawed" operations in Syria which would "inflame the civil war and therefore extremism".
Moscow says it has been hitting IS positions and denies reports that Russian strikes have mainly targeted other opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Moscow says it has been hitting IS positions and denies reports that Russian strikes have mainly targeted other opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.