"We [the United States] would never provide Nusra with any kind of assistance whatsoever," Toner told reporters when asked about Ezz’s comments.
Toner added the United States "vehemently" rejects any notions that it would arm a group that it views as a foreign terrorist organization and an affiliate of Al Qaeda.
He also accused Syria’s military offensive in Aleppo of forcing opposition fighters partnering with the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.
"When you have the reality of Aleppo with renewed airstrikes, with renewed fighting, with renewed government regime offensive on the ground… that only drives the moderate opposition into the arms of Nusra," Toner said, stressing that the US remains in contact with the Syrian opposition to ensure they abide to the ceasefire agreement terms that stipulate separation from designated terrorist groups like the Nusra Front.
Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow could hardly trust the US-led coalition's actions against terrorist groups in Syria as it exclusively targets Daesh terror group and bypasses the group formerly known as the Nusra Front.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on September 22, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that a recent air strike delivered by the US-led coalition on the Syrian forces in Deir ez-Zor proved Washington was complicit with terrorist groups in the war-torn country.
