Syrian rebel commander who completed a US training program admits to giving military equipment to an al-Qaida affiliate
U.S. Central Command says that 25 percent of the equipment assigned to unit was given to al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, known as the Nusra Front
Equipment was reportedly turned over to group in exchange for safe passage within the region
Air Force Col. Pat Ryder says the command is looking into the incident
By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporter
Published: 18:13 EST, 25 September 2015 | Updated: 21:47 EST, 25 September 2015
A Syrian rebel commander who recently completed a U.S. training program has told the U.S. military that he surrendered six coalition-provided trucks and ammunition to an intermediary linked to the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, known as the Nusra Front.
U.S. Central Command said late Friday that roughly 25 percent of the equipment assigned to that unit was apparently turned over earlier this week in exchange for safe passage within the region.
U.S. officials said the Syrians continue to insist that they have not relinquished any actual weapons to the Nusra Front and that all of their personnel are still accounted for.
But the report contradicts information the Defense Department provided earlier in the day, which said reports of U.S.-trained Syrian rebels defecting and missing equipment going to the Nusra Front were incorrect.
The report underscores persistent problems with the U.S.-led coalition's effort to train and equip Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State.
Ryder said the Syrians had told the U.S. earlier Friday that no equipment or people were missing, but the U.S. found out later on that some of those assertions were wrong.
He said providing equipment to the Nusra Front is a violation of the training and equipping program.
'In light of this new information, we wanted to ensure the public was informed as quickly as possible about the facts as we know them at this time,' Ryder said.
'We are using all means at our disposal to look into what exactly happened and determine the appropriate response.'
Safe passage: U.S. Central Command said that they reportedly made the deal in exchange for safe passage within the region. Above, Syrian opposition members fight against Assad Regime Forces on September 12
The commander who turned the equipment over to the Nusra Front was one of about 70 rebel fighters who were in the second U.S. training course. Above, members of Jabhat as-Sham forces make preparations
The commander who turned the equipment over to the Nusra Front was one of about 70 rebel fighters who were in the second U.S. training course.
He had only recently returned to Syria to fight the Islamic State militants.
The training program has been criticized as offering too little too late and failing to provide enough protection for those trained rebels once back inside Syria.
The selected rebels are said to undergo a thorough vetting process to ensure they focus on the fight against the IS.
U.S. officials have begun an overhaul of the effort, including suggesting that the newly trained fighters operate as the New Syrian Forces, or NSF, alongside Syrian Kurds, Sunni Arab and other anti-Islamic State forces.
The first batch of about 54 trainees has largely disbanded. Of the 54, one was killed; one is being held captive; nine are back in the fight; 11 are available but not in Syria; 14 returned to Syria but quit the U.S. program; and 18 are unaccounted for.
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