President Trump on Monday authorized the Pentagon to arm Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces as they approach the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, the Defense Department announced Tuesday. The Kurdish fighters are already receiving support from US forces and “are the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future,” Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a Tuesday statement. The decision raises tensions with Turkey, who considers Syrian Kurds allied with Kurdish fighters inside its borders that it views as a terror group. “We are keenly aware of the security concerns of our coalition partner Turkey,” White said. “We want to reassure the people and the government of Turkey that the US is committed to preventing additional security risks and protecting our NATO ally.” Turkey recently conducted airstrikes on Kurdish fighter-held regions inside Syria, prompting international scrutiny.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.