Al-Qaida Seizes Weapons, Bases From US-backed Syrian Rebels

U.S.-backed Syrian rebels say al-Qaida militants have seized their bases and stolen weapons in a series of raids in the northern Idlib province.
Save
Al-Qaida Seizes Weapons, Bases From US-backed Syrian Rebels
Fighters from Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front drive in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo flying Islamist flags as they head to a frontline, on May 26, 2015. (Fadi al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
Updated:

BEIRUT—U.S.-backed Syrian rebels say al-Qaida militants have seized their bases and stolen weapons in a series of raids in the northern Idlib Province.

Division 13 of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said on Twitter Sunday that the al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front occupied and looted its posts late the night before.

[aolvideo src=“http://pshared.5min.com/Scripts/PlayerSeed.js?sid=1759&width=580&height=356&playList=519575385&responsive=false&pgType=console&pgTypeId=discovery-videoDetails-grabCodeBtn”]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, says Nusra seized anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles, a tank, and other arms from the division, which has received weapons, training, and money from the U.S. government. It says Nusra and an allied militia detained 40 fighters from Division 13.

Both the FSA and the Nusra Front are fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad.

[morearticles]1990399, 1990361[/morearticles]