U.S. to equip Syrian rebels to call airstrikes

The U.S. is to provide moderate Syrian rebels with pickup trucks equipped with machine guns and radios for calling in U.S. airstrikes. The U.S. also plans to provide training to rebels fighting on two fronts against Islamic State militants and the Syrian regime

B-1B Lancer: Long-range heavy bomber

500-lb and 2,000-lb guided bombs

TRAINING More than 400 U.S. troops, including special operations forces, to train up to 5,000 Syrian fighters a year for three years at sites in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey

Sniper XR pod: Electro- optical system allows aircrew to precisely target moving objects

EQUIPMENT Teams of 4-6 rebels each given Toyota HiLux pickup truck with
mounted machine gun, radio and GPS tracker. Fighters will also be given mortars
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TURKEY

Kobane: U.S. airstrikes called in by Kurdish fighters helped drive IS fighters from city

Aleppo

Damascus

SYRIA

JORDAN

SAUDI ARABIA

Kurdish control

IRAN

Baghdad

IRAQ

200km 120 miles

IS control / support

Training for 2,000 men to begin in Turkey in mid-March
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Sources: Wall Street Jounal, Lockheed Martin

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