Kurdish YPG Militia Joins Syrian Arab Groups in New Military Alliance

A Kurdish militia that has previously been backed by U.S. airstrikes in Syria has entered into a new military coalition that includes Arab groups, Reuters reports.

The new alliance, calling itself Democratic Forces of Syria, includes the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and Syrian Arab groups that have previously fought together against Islamic State militants in northern Syria.

The Kurdish YPG militia has proven to be the most successful partner on the ground for the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State group, capturing large swaths of territory from the jihadists in northeastern Syria this year.

Russia and Saudi Arabia Agree to Cooperate in Syria

The meeting on Sunday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense signaled Moscow’s largest attempt thus far to extend a hand to states opposed to the rule of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, Reuters reports.

Shortly after the meeting between Putin and Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists that both countries were keen on cooperating in Syria and were set on preventing the establishment of a “terrorist caliphate.”

While he acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s “concerns” regarding Moscow’s goals in Syria, Lavrov insisted that Russia is only targeting extremists such as Islamic State and the al-Qaida affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra.

U.S. Dumps Failed $500M Program to Train Syrian Rebels

The U.S. Pentagon has dumped its failed $500 million program to train “moderate” Syrian opposition forces in favor of increasing military support to established and trusted units, including the Kurdish YPG militia, Al-Jazeera America reports.

The strategic switch comes shortly after the White House admission last week that creating a military unit from scratch to fight against Islamic State had been “a more difficult endeavor than we assumed.”

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook announced the plan on Friday, saying in a statement that the U.S. will now “provide equipment packages and weapons to a select group of vetted leaders and their units” who are “motivated to take back Syrian territory from ISIL.”

Top Image: In this Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 file photo, Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) soldiers walk near the town entrance circle heading to their strongholds in Kobani, Syria. The Syrian Kurd fighters have earned praise from the U.S. Pentagon for their role in fighting the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Jake Simkin, File)

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