MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Pentagon started training a second class of Syrian rebels in July, as part of its train-and-equip program to fight ISIL militants, who have ceased vast areas in Syria and Iraq.
"We currently have two classes in training, and we continue to see significant interests and opposition forces volunteering for the program," US Central Command spokesman Col. Pat Ryder said on Friday as quoted by The Hill newspaper.
At least a dozen members of the first class group have been reportedly captured or killed by al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate al-Nusra in July; others have reportedly vanished.
The United States and its allies have planned to train and equip some 5,000 moderate Syrian rebels as part of their efforts to destroy the Islamic State.
The United States has been supporting what they refer to as "moderate" Syrian rebels with financial aid and supplies of small arms. In addition, a US-led coalition has been bombing ISIL positions in Syria since September 2014. The airstrikes, which have not led to any breakthroughs in the fight against ISIL have not been coordinated with the Syrian side.
Skepticism over the US military’s train and equip program in Syria has been linked to fears that the moderate Syrian opposition that the United States has been training could eventually defect to ISIL.
