Washington: The Pentagon has earmarked $130 million for the year 2026 under the "Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund (CTEF)" targeting groups in Syria, notably the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.

According to Anadolu Agency, a Department of Defense document detailing the justification for its 2026 budget outlines that the fund is designed to support the training, equipment, and monthly stipends of the US-backed SDF and the Syrian Free Army, based in southeastern Syria. It also aims to assist "vetted partner forces" in Iraq and Lebanon.

The document specifies that the allocation covers light weapons, medical supplies, and facility repairs, emphasizing that an ISIS (Daesh) resurgence poses a threat to US national interests, as well as to the people of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the global community.

Of the $130 million set aside for Syria, $7.42 million has been allocated to the Syrian Free Army. The document suggests that this group is anticipated to "extend its reach" against ISIS elements in the Badiyah Desert region.

The total budget allocated by the Pentagon for groups, including the PKK/YPG terror group under the guise of fighting ISIS in Syria, was $147.9 million in 2025 and $156 million in 2024.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Trkiye, the PKK-listed as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and the European Union-has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths, including women, children, infants, and the elderly. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

For the first time, the Pentagon's budget includes $15 million in support for the Lebanese Armed Forces to bolster their counterterrorism capacity, particularly in the southern Litani area near Israel. The document notes that ISIS continues to exploit the porous Syria-Lebanon border for logistics and recruitment.