The train-and-equip program intends to bolster Syrian insurgents deemed politically moderate enough by the US to fight ISIL, which has seized wide areas of Syria.
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Turkey agreed last month to let U.S. forces use the Incirlik air base near Turkey’s southern border with Syria.
The US directly stated Tuesday that it would protect its nascent force of Syrian rebels from Syrian government attacks. It also would not comment on the status of the U.S.-trained fighters.
The capture on Monday raises the number of Free Syrian rebels that have been killed, captured or wounded in the past week to 14, out of a total of 54 that have been trained by the U.S. military, NBC reported. On Friday, it issued a statement saying the fighters acted as US agents by helping to carry out airstrikes on jihadist and Islamist groups.
But Mr Cavusoglu indicated after meeting US secretary of state John Kerry in Malaysia that Turkey would be stepping up its campaign against IS jihadists. There was no U.S. military response.
Turkey, a member of the worldwide coalition led by its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally Washington, had so far declined to take robust action against militants but after the July 20 deadly bombing in a border town blamed on suspected IS, it launched limited strikes against the group in Syria.
Thus the US may become involved in the Syrian civil war on the rebel side. “This is not something we view as inviting confrontation with Assad in any way”.
The Obama administration maintains it does not coordinate military efforts with Assad, a leader who the White House says no longer has legitimacy to govern.
It’s unclear whether the U.S. will seek to recover the captured rebels, the official added.
Only around 60 have been deployed to the battlefield so far.
“We’re not in a position to be able to provide you tactical details”, spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told a news briefing.
“The coalition air force supported them in front of everyone and they struck near Bab al-Salama crossing before an hour or half an hour and so there were Muslim casualties and”. The air strikes were carried out late Tuesday, according to CBS News, by a remotely piloted aircraft, or drone. That will allow U.S. aircraft to reach into Syrian air space more quickly and at a lower cost.
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“We recognize, though, that many of these groups now fight on multiple fronts, including against the Assad regime, (Islamic State) and other terrorists,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Elissa Smith, stressing though that “first and foremost” the US focuses on combating IS.
