U.S. Trained Syrian Rebels Can Call In U.S. Airstrikes But Are Not Allowed

A rebel fighter gestures as he shoots his weapon during clashes with forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on the frontline of Aleppo’s Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood May 23, 2015. (Reuters/Hosam Katan)

Washington Post: U.S.-trained Syrian rebels can call in airstrikes — they’re just not allowed

U.S.-trained Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State have the equipment and the training to call in airstrikes, but have yet to be authorized to do so, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the program.

“We have real time communication, the ability to track friendly locations, everything,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly comment on the program.

The disclosure is the clearest indication to date that the U.S. military is at least preparing for a deeper and more direct involvement in the Syrian conflict than the Obama administration has so far been willing to approve. The question of how much support U.S.-trained rebels might receive once re-inserted into Syria has hovered over the Pentagon training program since it was announced last year.

WNU Editor: Is this a sign that the U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict is about to escalate .... I have my doubts. President Obama has been reluctant to get involved in the mess that is Syria today, and while he permits airstrikes against Islamic State targets, bombing Syrian government positions is a totally different "ball-game".