AhlulBayt News Agency - The U.S. trained New Syrian Army – not to be confused with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) – has virtually been wiped out, according to the Washington Post.
It now transpires the small rebel group was hit by a major ISIS suicide attack on May 7, killing most of its members, according to its leader Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Tallaa.
The New Syrian Army otherwise seized the al-Tanf border crossing on the Iraqi-Syrian border on March 5th, earlier this year.
The unit was created in Jordan after receiving training by the CIA. It was subsequently funnelled across the Syrian border into southeastern Homs to combat ISIS.
Most of the group’s fighters are originally from Deir Ezzor; a governorate in eastern Syria of which ISIS expelled all rebel groups during an offensive 2 years ago.
Nevertheless, the New Syrian Army is still in control of the al-Tanf border crossing, according to U.S. spokesman Colonel Steve Warren.
“They still have Tanaf, they have been resupplied, and we think they can hold,” he said. “We think they have enough firepower, and we are providing support with airstrikes as available.”
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