US Senate panel bill links Syria support to disarmament efforts
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A bill approved by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee includes provisions related to Syria and Iraq, conditioning defense support to the Syrian government on efforts to disarm foreign fighters and jihadist groups while continuing assistance for Kurdish partners involved in counter-ISIS operations.
According to a summary published by the committee under its Middle East provisions, the legislation would condition defense support to the Syrian government on its efforts to disarm “all foreign fighters and jihadists who remain in Syria.”
The summary also states that the bill directs the continuation of Counter ISIS Train and Equip Funds (CTEF) assistance for Iraqi Kurdish partners as part of ongoing efforts against ISIS.
Other provisions outlined in the document include increased funding for U.S.-Israel cooperation in countering unmanned aerial systems and subterranean warfare, as well as initiatives aimed at expanding defense cooperation between the United States and Israel and among signatories to the Abraham Accords.
The committee’s summary further notes that defense funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces would be conditioned on efforts to counter Hezbollah.
The provisions were included in a broader defense authorization measure approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee and are subject to further legislative procedures before becoming law.