Saudis, UAE May Lack ‘Capacity’ to Help in Syria, US Officials Say

Top U.S. intelligence officials appear to be raising concerns about offers by some Arab countries to put boots on the ground to fight Islamic State militants in Syria.

Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — Sunni-majority states uncomfortable with Iran’s expansion into Syria and Iraq — have said they could send troops.

“We appreciate and value the Saudi willingness to engage on the ground,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told lawmakers Tuesday, adding, “I think that would be a challenge for them if they were to try to take that on.”

Clapper praised UAE’s counterterrorism forces on their performance in Yemen, calling it “quite impressive.”

But Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart said an additional deployment might be too much of an undertaking.

“Whether they have the capacity to do both Yemen and something in Iraq-Syria is questionable,” he said. “They’re doing extremely well in Yemen, but the capacity to do more is pretty limited.”...
 voanews.com
9/2/16
--
-
Related:

• US welcomes Saudi troop offer for Syria. Saudi Arabia would play a leading role. - FM al-Jubeir

• The United Arab Emirates announced the availability of the troops enter Syria

• Bahrain denies ‘inaccurate’ Syria remarks

• Syrian Foreign Ministry Has Promised to Return Home Foreign Troops in Coffins (video theguardian.com)

• Carter Welcomes Saudi ’Boots on Ground’ Offer in anti-ISIL Campaign