Saudis, UAE to Fund US-Run Observation Posts, Militants’ Training in Northern Syria

A source, affiliated to the SDF, reported that the Saudis and the UAE will participate in funding the US-run observation posts on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River near the border with Turkey and also for training SDF militants.

The sources said that a sum of 30,000 SDF militants are expected to train by the US-led coalition to deploy at Syrian borders, adding that Turkey’s former pressure on the US and other coalition member states had delayed the plan for training and arming the SDF.

The Arabic-language Sharq al-Awsat quoted an unnamed Kurdish military commander as saying on Monday that the US forces started the operations to set up observation posts in regions under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces along Syria-Turkey border.

“The US forces have set up three observation posts in Tal Abyaz region in Northern Raqqa and two others in Kobani in Northeastern Aleppo,” the Kurdish commander said.

He noted that the move by the US comes as Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had previously voiced displeasure over the US plan to set up observation posts along borders with Syria, and said the US measure will make the situation more complicated.