Story highlights The US is providing Kurdish fighters with small arms, ammunition and vehicles

US officials say they have been in contact with Turkey in an effort to allay their concerns

(CNN) The US military began arming Syrian Kurds fighting ISIS Tuesday, in a move likely to anger America's long-time ally Turkey.

The equipment will be provided to Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces and will include small arms, ammunition and vehicles, according to Maj. Adrian Rankine Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman.

On May 8 the Pentagon announced that President Donald Trump had authorized the "limited" arming of Syrian Kurds to help in the fight against the terror group, an announcement that drew immediate protests from senior Turkish officials.

US military officials have said the supplies and weapons will be parceled out to be just enough to accomplish specific objectives related to efforts to retake Raqqa from ISIS.

It is a move that has long been under consideration at the Pentagon but was delayed due to strong opposition from America's NATO ally, Turkey.

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