WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA) MESOP : US FIGHTERS SETBACKS & DAVID IGNATIUS’ COMMENTARY

U.S. Trained Fighters Face Setbacks as Air War Expands: A member of the New Syrian Forces, or Division 30, trained by the United States military was reportedly killed and five members captured in clashes with al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra. Subsequently, al-Nusra threatened to attack all U.S.-trained fighters entering the country, stating they “will not accept” groups working with the United States and calling on Syrian rebels to abandon the United States as an ally.

David Ignatius said the United States finally “seems to be framing a strategy for combating the Islamic State militarily in Syria,” while hoping that new military pressure will convince Assad to accept a political process that would lead to a change of leadership, or even regime, in the country.” However, a key leader of Division 30 Captain Ammar al-Wawi has criticized the U.S. train and equip program, stating that the program is too slow and offers “no international guarantees” of protection to the fighters. In other developments, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution which seeks to investigate and hold accountable those using chlorine gas attacks in Syria. www.mesop.de