Second group of US-backed rebels defect to Syrian Army near Iraqi border

A second group of rebels from the US-backed Jaysh Mughawir Al-Thoura have defected from the Anti-ISIL Coalition to the Syrian Armed Forces near the Iraqi border on Monday, opposition activists reported tonight.

The exact number of rebels that defected to government lines is still unknown at the moment, as no figure was reported by the opposition activists.

However, this latest defection marks the second time in two weeks that members of Jaysh Mughawiir Al-Thoura have abandoned the Anti-ISIL Coalition for government lines.

No reason was cited for the defections.