White House Considering Arming Syrian Kurds Against The Islamic State

Kurdish Y.P.G. fighters last year during a battle for Tel Tamer, Syria, at their combat outpost on the outskirts of the city. Credit Mauricio Lima for The New York Times

New York Times: Obama Administration Considers Arming Syrian Kurds Against ISIS

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating the Islamic State, a major policy shift that could speed up the offensive against the terrorist group but also sharply escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States.

The plan has been under discussion by the National Security Council staff at a moment when President Obama has directed aides to examine all proposals that could accelerate the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Mr. Obama has told aides that he wants an offensive well underway before he leaves office that is aimed at routing the Islamic State from Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital in northern Syria.

Deciding whether to arm the Syrian Kurds is a difficult decision for Mr. Obama, who is caught in the middle trying to balance the territorial and political ambitions of Turkey and the Syrian Kurds, two warring American allies that Washington needs to combat the Islamic insurgency.

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WNU Editor: This is not going to go over well with Turkey who have just accused Kurdish YPG fighters of war crimes .... Turkey accuses Kurdish YPG of crimes at UN (Kurdistan 24).