The U.S. has begun training Syrian rebel fighters as part of a program aimed at confronting the self-proclaimed Islamic State. A group of around 90 rebels are training at a base in Jordan, to be followed by similar efforts in Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the move.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter: “We’re announcing today that combat training has begun for a company-sized group from the new Syrian forces. This program is critical and a complex part of our counter-ISIL (Islamic State) efforts. We expect a second group to begin training in the next few weeks. They are being trained and equipped to fight ISIL. That is the purpose, and that is the basis upon which they’re being vetted and trained.”