US Embassy: Turkey, US sign deal to train and arm Syrian rebels

ISTANBUL — The U.S. Embassy in Ankara says that Turkey and the United States have signed an agreement to train and arm Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State group.

The two countries have been in talks about such a pact for several months. The deal was signed Thursday evening by U.S Ambassador John Bass and a senior Turkish foreign ministry official, said Embassy spokesman Joe Wierichs. He gave no further details.

The Turkish government has said the training could begin as early as next month.