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US President Donald Trump has approved supplying weapons to Kurdish forces fighting so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria, the Pentagon says, the BBC reports.
Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) would be equipped to help drive IS from its stronghold, Raqqa, a spokeswoman said.
The US was “keenly aware” of Turkey’s concerns about such a move, she added.
Turkey views the Kurdish rebels as terrorists and wants to stop them taking more territory in Syria.
The SDF, which comprises Kurdish and Arab militias, is already being supported by elite US forces and air strikes from a US-led coalition.
The group is currently battling IS for control of the city of Tabqa, an IS command centre just 50km (30 miles) from Raqqa.