The US military has delivered more than 45 tonnes of ammunition to rebels fighting the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) in north-eastern Syria.

C-17 transport aircraft, accompanied by fighter escorts, dropped pallets of supplies overnight in Hassakeh province, a Pentagon spokesman said.

The consignment reportedly comprised small arms, ammunition and grenades.

It comes days after the US abandoned a $500m (£326m) plan to train thousands of “moderate” rebels to fight IS.

The money will instead be used to provide much-needed ammunition and some weapons to commanders of rebel groups already established on the ground.