Nusra Front releases US-backed rebels in Syria

Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria has released seven members of a US-backed rebel faction that it abducted late last month, the rebel group says in a statement.

The Division 30 rebel group says in the statement that it hopes the Nusra Front will release the group’s commander, who has been held since July 30.

Days after the abduction, the Nusra Front attacked the Division 30 command in northern Syria, leading to the near-collapse of the group that has dozens of fighters.

The kidnapping and attack on Division 30 came a few days after the US and Turkey announced the outlines of a deal to help rebels push IS back from a strip of territory it controls along the Syrian-Turkish border, replacing it with more moderate rebels backed by Washington and Ankara.

The Nusra Front said at the time it abducted the rebels because they were trained by the US.

The Division 30 statement describes Nusra Front fighters as “brothers” and thanks them for the release, saying, “We value this noble step.”

It says Division 30 is on the “same page with all holy warriors in Syria.”

— AP