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US commander backs revised train and equip program in Syria

Gen. Joseph L. Votel, currently the head of the Special Operations Command, left, and Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, to testify before the Senate Armed Services confirmation Committee hearing to elevate their positions. Votel has been nominated to become the commander of U.S. Central Command which oversees military operations in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State Group. Thomas has been nominated to replace Gen. Votel as leader of the secretive Special Operations Command. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Gen. Joseph L. Votel, currently the head of the Special Operations Command, left, and Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, to testify before the Senate Armed Services confirmation Committee hearing to elevate their positions. Votel has been nominated to become the commander of U.S. Central Command which oversees military operations in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State Group. Thomas has been nominated to replace Gen. Votel as leader of the secretive Special Operations Command. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Gen. Joseph L. Votel, currently the head of the Special Operations Command, left, and Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, to testify before the Senate Armed Services confirmation Committee hearing to elevate their positions. Votel has been nominated to become the commander of U.S. Central Command which oversees military operations in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State Group. Thomas has been nominated to replace Gen. Votel as leader of the secretive Special Operations Command. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By Associated Press 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s choice to be the next U.S. commander for the Middle East says he supports moving forward with a revised effort to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels battling Islamic State militants.

During congressional testimony Wednesday, Army Gen. Joseph Votel says it is good to have fighters who are trained by the United States and connected to American firepower.

The Obama administration last year scrapped a $500 million train and equip program for Syrian rebels after falling significantly short of the goal to train 5,000 fighters. After 50 or so new fighters were captured, wounded or fled in their first encounter with extremist militants.

If confirmed, Votel would take over leadership of Central Command, which oversees military operations in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State group.