Turkish authorities have started vetting candidates for a beefed-up Syrian opposition force under a joint initiative with the U.S., according to a Turkish official with knowledge of the process.
The program will train as many as 5,000 fighters, another official said. The training will take place at a Turkish base near the central Anatolian city of Kirsehir before the recruits join the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details aren't public. It's unclear when the training will start.
The program has been the subject of extensive talks, and its introduction comes as the rebels backed by the U.S. and Turkey have lost ground on two fronts, against militant groups such as Islamic State as well as the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad.