Obama Waives Restrictions on Military Assistance to Forces Allied with US in Syria

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama on Wednesday in a memorandum to the US Departments of State and Defense waived restrictions related to providing military assistance to forces allied with the U.S. in Syria, according to a White House press release issued on Thursday, Sputnik reported.

 The assistance include the provision of defense articles and services to forces allied with the United States, according to the release.

 “I hereby…determine that the transaction, encompassing the provision of defense articles and services to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals engaged in supporting or facilitating ongoing US military operations to counter terrorism in Syria, is essential to the national security interests of the United States,” Obama said. “[I hereby] waive the prohibitions…related to such a transaction.”

According to Syrian news agency SANA, the US decision comes amid intensified US-Russian contacts aiming to find new ways to reach political solution to the crisis in Syria. It also comes only days after the US President-elect Donald Trump had announced that the US policy under his rule will be based on not interfering in conflicts outside the United States and on giving up the regime change policies adopted by his predecessors.   

H.M