A document released by the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) revealed that the United States plans to increase the number of Syrian fighters it supports as part of the "ISIS training and armaments training program" from 16,000 today to 19,500 fighters in 2023.
The document, published as part of the Pentagon's draft budget report for 2023, made it clear that this increase is primarily intended to focus on protecting prisons where ISIS prisoners are being held in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern and eastern Syria.
According to the document, the U.S. government expects to spend $35 million this year on training and arming these Syrian fighters, in addition to $120 million to cover fighters' salaries and logistical support, and repair the infrastructure needed for their work and maintenance.