U.S.-trained Syria rebels gave ammo, equipment to Qaeda group
The Pentagon said a group of US-trained Syrian rebels had handed over
ammunition and equipment to Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the country, the
Al-Nusra Front, purportedly in exchange for safe passage.
The
startling acknowledgement contrasted with earlier Pentagon denials of
reports that some fighters had either defected or handed over gear.
"Unfortunately,
we learned late today that the NSF (New Syrian Forces) unit now says it
did in fact provide six pickup trucks and a portion of their ammunition
to a suspected Al-Nusra Front (group)," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff
Davis said.
Colonel Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for Central
Command (CENTCOM), which is overseeing efforts against the Islamic State
group in Iraq and Syria, said the fighters had handed over the gear in
exchange for safe passage in the Al-Nusra operating area.
"If
accurate, the report of NSF members providing equipment to Al-Nusra
Front is very concerning and a violation of Syria train-and-equip
program guidelines," Ryder said.
Ryder added that the pickup
vehicles and ammunition represented about 25 percent of the equipment
issued to the group by the US-led coalition.
"We are using all means at our disposal to look into what exactly happened and determine the appropriate response," Ryder said.
