US general 'promises Syrian fighters weapons' in covert meeting

A top US general secretly visited northern Syria on Friday, to meet with an alliance of forces fighting the Islamic State [IS] group.

In the first such meeting under the Trump administration, four star General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) that covers the Middle East, met covertly with leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to SDF spokesperson Talal Sello.

"[Votel] discussed the increase of coordination and support (to the SDF) in the era of Donald Trump" said Sello. "There were promises of heavy weapons in future stages."

Sello described the four-hour meeting as "confirmation of US support for our forces". The Pentagon has not yet responded to reports of the meeting.

Another senior SDF source told AFP: "Votel confirmed the coalition's commitment to protecting Manbij from any attacks waged by Turkey or supported by it, as part of its previous commitment to protecting the area."

Manjib, a city in Aleppo province, is strategically vital in the ongoing war. Turkish forces and Turkish-backed groups are advancing from the north and most analysts view Turkish encroachment as a strategy to curb Kurdish control, as well as fighting IS.

"We did not discuss opening corridors for Turkish-backed forces to enter areas under our control," said the SDF.

Votel has visited Syria before. In May 2016, he and US military advisers met with SDF commanders but this is his first trip under the administration of President Trump.

Votel has visited Syria before. In May 2016, he and US military advisers met with SDF commanders but this is his first trip under the administration of President Trump.

Throughout his successful election campaign and since his inauguration Trump has been vocal in his condemnation of IS, but less clear on his strategy to defeat them. Earlier in the week General Votel had hinted to journalists that more American troops might be called for in Syria to "maintain momentum".

The visit follows a similar clandestine trip made by outspoken Republican Senator John McCain, amid an ongoing US 're-think' of its Syria strategy under Trump ahead of a possible push for IS' de-facto capital Raqqa, in Syria.

The US currently has special forces in Syria advising the SDF, but no combat troops.

Initiated in October 2015, the SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters that has seized swathes of territory from IS across northern Syria.