Washington set to announce deployment of special operations forces to Syria

The Obama administration is expected to announce on Friday a decision to deploy a small number of special operations forces in an advisory role to Syria, U.S. administration and congressional sources said.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the number of special operations forces to be deployed was "tiny" but did not give a number.

The sources said the move reflected a wider strategy of strengthening moderate rebels in Syriaeven as Washington intensifies its efforts to find a diplomatic solution to end to the four-and-a-half year Syrian civil war.

(Reuters reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Patricia Zengerle)