Frustrations were high as the United States said it would send forces into Northern Syria to fight Islamic State.
The frustration came from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the Syrian National Coalition and Sunni Arab rebels attempting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The groups say they are upset with the U.S. government’s lack of communication with them. The U.S. announced it would send military special forces fewer than 50 of them to Syria to fight against Islamic State.
Rebel commanders with the FSA say they were not told of the U.S. decision. A top FSA commander told VOA in an email that “I don’t have any idea about the sending of U.S. soldiers to Syria.”
FSA leaders said they learned of the U.S.’s plans from reporters after the news was announced in Washington, D.C.
The Syrian National Coalition also complained of the U.S. strategy in Syria. SNC vice-president Nagham al-Ghadri said “from the beginning of the revolution until now, there is always an excuse why the U.S. is not supporting us more.”
