WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Washington has confirmed that US-trained Syrian opposition fighters came under attack on Friday morning by unknown forces, US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said during a press briefing.
“We did learn that early this morning members of the New Syrian Forces along with the members of the 30th Division of the Free Syrian Army were attacked by an unknown force of about 50 personnel,” Toner said on Friday.
The spokesperson stressed that he could not speculate on the reason of this attack.
“We do know that the New Syrian Forces and the 30th Division have defended themselves and repelled the attack,” he concluded.
The United States and its allies have planned to train and equip some 5,000 moderate Syrian rebels as part of their efforts to destroy the ISIL.
Syria has been in a state of a civil war since the 2011 anti-government uprising, which has claimed some 220,000 lives, according to the United Nations estimates. The country's authorities are fighting a number of rebel groups, including the Islamic State jihadists.
The US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL militants in Syria as well as in neighbouring Iraq since 2014. Despite the military campaign, ISIL continues to make significant advances in both countries.
