Turkey agreed in mid-February to join the United States in a train-and-equip program for Syrian rebel fighters, but Ankara and Washington have not ironed out their differences over the aims of the program.
Turkish officials have stressed they see the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be as important as battling Islamic State militants. While U.S. officials have made clear the objective of the military training program is solely to battle Islamic State fighters.
On Monday, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said in Ankara the training program for Syrian opposition forces will be held in Turkey’s central Anatolia province of Kirikkale.