KIRSEHIR, Turkey
U.S. Central Command Chief General Lloyd Austin and his delegation of military officials visited Turkey's central Kirsehir province on Wednesday as part of the train-and-equip program for Syrian opposition forces.
On Feb. 19, Turkey and the U.S. signed a deal to train and equip Syrian opposition forces, in which the aim is to achieve an actual political transformation in the war-torn country on the basis of the Geneva Communique.
The Syrian fighters trained in the joint program are expected to fight both Daesh, the Arabic acronym for ISIL, and the Assad regime.
It is estimated that the first group of 300 soldiers will be brought to Kaman district in Kirsehir province by March 15, 2015, sources said.
CENTCOM chief Austin also met with Turkey's Chief of Staff, General Necdet Ozel, and other military officials in Ankara, Turkey's general staff said.
