Ernst Applauds Administration’s Decision to Equip YPG Forces in Syria

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement in support of the Trump administration’s decision to directly equip the Peoples Protection Units (YPG):

“I have long been supportive of providing additional equipment to our Kurdish allies, both the Peshmerga forces in Iraq and the YPG that are part of the Syrian Democratic Forces. I am pleased the administration today decided to directly equip the YPG, as this move will greatly increase our ability to defeat ISIS in Syria.

“Moving forward we need to ensure proper oversight of any and all equipment provided and reassure our NATO ally, Turkey, that we will remain allies in the fight against ISIS.”