US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, at a press conference in Copenhagen Tuesday, had 'open and useful discussions' with Turkish officials on fighting Islamic State militants near Raqqa. Dana W White, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman, said in a written statement that President Donald Trump authorised the arms Monday. They described no firm timeline, with the American intention to provide the new weapons to the Syrian Kurds as soon as possible. The Turks have insisted that the Syrian Kurds be excluded from that operation, but US officials insisted there was no real alternative. Basat Ozturk, a senior Turkish defence official, participated.

Source: Bangkok Post May 09, 2017 19:18 UTC