US-trained Syria rebels give equipment to Nusra Front

A group of US-trained Syrian fighters has handed over their vehicles and ammunition to the al-Nusra front militant group, the Pentagon has admitted.

Central Command spokesperson Colonel Patrick Ryder said on Friday that a rebel unit had surrendered six pick-up trucks and ammunition to al-Nusra in exchange for safe passage across the Islamist militant group’s operating area.

"If accurate, the report of New Syrian Forces members providing equipment to Al-Nusra Front is very concerning and a violation of Syria train-and-equip programme guidelines," Ryder said. "We are using all means at our disposal to look into what exactly happened and determine the appropriate response.”

He added that the pickup vehicles and ammunition represented about 25% of the equipment issued to the group by the US-led coalition.

The US military’s acknowledgement contrasted with earlier denials by the US Defence Department of reports that some US-trained fighters had either defected or handed over their gear.

Unwilling to commit US ground troops in the region, the United States in January launched a train-and-equip mission for Syrian opposition fighters as part of a broader push to work with locals there and in Iraq.

However, the programme has faltered and the Pentagon has admitted that several of the potential fighters had failed the strict screening process.

The US Congress has approved $500 million to train and equip around 5,000 rebels to fight against the Islamic State militant group. However, the first group of 54 graduates were attacked by al-Nusra in July and the Pentagon is still unsure what happened to them since.

The second group of 70 fighters were sent back to Syria last weekend and reports began circulating on Twitter soon after that they had either defected or handed over equipment.

Lloyd Austin – the US general overseeing efforts against IS stunned US lawmakers when he told them only "four or five" US-trained rebels were still on the ground fighting in Syria.