Trump ends covert plan to arm militants in Syria

The Trump administration has decided to halt the CIA's covert program to equip and train certain militants groups fighting the Syrian government
Thursday, 20 July 2017 16:56

US President Donald Trump has made a decision to end the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) program of arming and training "moderate" militants in Syria, US media reported on Wednesday.

The decision shows Trump’s intent to find ways to cooperate with Russia on finding a resolution to the Syrian crisis, The Washington Post reported, citing US officials. Trump made the decision to drop the program nearly a month ago, according to the Post, after meeting with CIA chief Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor HR McMaster.

The CIA program began in 2013 as part of efforts by the administration of then-President Barack Obama to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders declined to comment on the topic at the White House briefing. The CIA also declined to comment.