Syria official lashes out over US training of rebels
Americans insist program aimed at combating Islamic State extremists, not Assad's forces
Syria’s deputy foreign minister has criticized a US program to train moderate rebel fighters which has begun in Jordan, saying it only fuels terrorism and will further complicate efforts to reach a political solution.
The remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad were published Saturday in his weekly column for the Lebanon-based Al-Binaa newspaper.
US officials say the program is part of a broader effort to build a force capable of fighting Islamic State extremists — not President Bashar Assad’s forces. Officials said Thursday the training started in Jordan and will be expanded to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Mekdad said Washington is better off giving a hand to those fighting terrorism, instead of cooperating with what he said were terrorists. His government refers to all armed opposition as “terrorists.”
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.