US-Trained terrorists Return to Fight in Syria

After reports that Washington started training terrorits in Jordan, Reuters unveiled Friday that most of the first contingent of Syrian rebels finished their training and are now returning to Syria to fight.

According to a senior rebel source, the fighters were taught by US army and intelligence officers in Jordan to use anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry.
This comes as western officials and Syrian rebel commanders declined to comment on reports in the German weekly Der Spiegel and other media outlets last week that said Americans were training anti-government Syrian forces in Jordan.

However, a senior rebel commander close to the process said US army and intelligence officers were training Syrian rebels and said most of the first batch of 300 fighters picked from southern Syria had finished their courses.
“This is a sensitive matter as you know, but yes the American army and intelligence are training some of the rebels,” he told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Based on its usual hypocrisy, the United States said it would provide medical supplies and food directly to opposition fighters, but has ruled out sending arms for fear they may find their way to extremists who might then use them against Western targets.

But, the commander said, Washington had taken the decision to train the rebels “under the table”.
The commander said US officials contacted the opposition General Command and offered to help some months ago. The General Command then asked brigades operating under its leadership to nominate “good fighters” to be trained to use advanced weapons such as anti-tank and anti-aircraft rockets, in addition to learning intelligence-gathering techniques.

Most of the first contingent of 300 fighters came from Damascus, the surrounding countryside, and Deraa, close to the border, because it was easier for them to reach Jordan.
“The courses vary, it takes between 15 days to one month and the fighters are divided into groups of 50 each. Each group travels to Jordan independently, not the 300 together,” he said. “It is defensive training.”

Most of the first group of 300 had now returned to fight in Syria, he said, but more were arriving to be trained.

For security and logistical reason fighters from northern Syria could not join the training in Jordan, the commander said. But the rebel command is trying to convince the Turkish government to allow them to open a training camp in Turkey.
“We are hopeful that the Turks will allow us to have this camp where American officers train us,” he said.