Pentagon: U.S.-Trained Syrian Rebels Gave Equipment To Nusra For Safe Passage To The U.S.

Reuters: U.S.-trained Syrian rebels gave equipment to Nusra: U.S. military

Syrian rebels trained by the United States gave some of their equipment to the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in exchange for safe passage, a U.S. military spokesman said on Friday, the latest blow to a troubled U.S. effort to train local partners to fight Islamic State militants.

The rebels surrendered six pick-up trucks and some ammunition, or about one-quarter of their issued equipment, to a suspected Nusra intermediary on Sept. 21-22 in exchange for safe passage, said Colonel Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, in a statement.

"If accurate, the report of NSF members providing equipment to al Nusra Front is very concerning and a violation of Syria train and equip program guidelines," Ryder said, using an acronym for the rebels, called the New Syrian Forces.

WNU Editor: This story keeps on getting giving.

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After Denial, DoD Acknowledges US-Trained Rebels Gave up Gear, Ammo -- Military.com
U.S. Says Rebel It Trained Surrendered Matériel in Syria -- NYT
U.S.-trained fighters in Syria gave equipment to al-Qaeda affiliate -- Washington Post
Coalition-trained forces in Syria surrendered equipment to jihadist group -- CNN
Syria crisis: US-trained rebels give equipment to al-Qaeda affiliate -- BBC
US-trained Syrian rebels in equipment exchange with al-Qaida affiliates -- The Guardian
US-trained Syria fighters gave equipment to Nusra Front -- Al Jazeera
US-backed rebels hand over equipment to al-Nusra Front -- Channel 4 News
Al-Nusra Front seizes weapons from hands of US-trained Syria rebels -- Middle East Online
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