Last Pentagon-Trained Syrian Rebels On Verge of Defeat

Rebels Debate Fleeing, Citing US 'Dereliction of Duty'

by Jason Ditz

 

All the other Pentagon-trained Syrian rebel factions, from their costly and largely ineffective foray into training, have either defected or been destroyed. The last little group, which holds the Tanaf border crossing between Iraq and Syria, is now on the brink.

The rebels pushed their way in and surprised a small number of ISIS forces at the border, which is the southern-most crossing between Iraq and Syria, but now with ISIS conducting counter-offensives in the area, it seems only a matter of time before they face another attack.

The rebels complain they aren’t getting much support from the US, which they described as a “dereliction of duty,” saying that they are debating whether or not to flee rather than simply wait for the inevitable rout from the much-larger ISIS force.

Pentagon officials sought to downplay the report, saying that they’ve provided air support “as available” and expect the group to ultimately survive, and hold the Tanaf crossing. The Tanaf crossing enters into mostly empty desert in Iraq, but has a highway from Baghdad into Syria.

http://news.antiwar.com/2016/05/27/last-pentagon-trained-syrian-rebels-on-verge-of-defeat/