US-led coalition to build 30,000-strong border force in Syria

14 January 2018, 7:49 pm

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BEIRUT, Lebanon — The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group says Sunday it is working to create a 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria, drawing sharp condemnation from Turkey.

With the offensive against IS winding down, the coalition and its allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces alliance are beginning to shift their focus to border security, coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon tells AFP.

“There is a goal of a final force of approximately 30,000,” about half of whom would be retrained SDF fighters, he says.

“There are approximately 230 individuals that are training right now in the border security force. That’s an inaugural class,” Dillon says.

— AFP