Ex-ISIS chief appointed as commander of US-backed militia in Syria.
US forces have been training the Syria Free Army in its occupation base in Al-Tanf, eastern Syria.
The Syria Free Army (SFA), a US-backed militant group being trained inside Washington’s Al-Tanf base in eastern Syria, appointed a former ISIS chief as their commander on 29 February.
“Today, the Syrian Free Army conducted a change of command and welcomed a new commander of the SFA. We thank COL Farid al-Qasim for 16 months of dedicated service to the SFA, the local community, and the 55-kilometer area,” the SFA said on Thursday via its Facebook page.
“We are excited for the new opportunities that [Colonel Salem Turki al-Antari] will bring to the SFA and the leadership he will provide. This step continues the SFA mission in the Region to secure and stabilize the 55 and defeat Da'esh (ISIS),” the statement added.
He added that Washington did not interfere in the appointment, as it came as an internal decision within the faction. Muhammad al-Khalidi, the head of a local council in the US-occupied Al-Rukban area in eastern Syria, told the outlet otherwise, saying Qasim had been “provoking tribal divisions in the region.”
Between 2015 and 2017, Antari took part in the ISIS takeover of Palmyra and the battles with the Syrian army that ensued. The ISIS assault on Palmyra destroyed some of Syria’s most cherished cultural heritage.
However, ISIS cells have been highly active in the Syrian desert, which is geographically linked to the 55-kilometer area surrounding the Al-Tanf base. Syrian and Russian officials have repeatedly accused Washington of providing logistical support to ISIS in these areas.
Russia has launched airstrikes on the Al-Tanf base and militants located in its vicinity in the past.
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@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would you reconcile the US Army's mission to defeat ISIS with the decision of a US-backed group to appoint an ex-ISIS chief?
@9KG6J3B2yrs2Y
The United States military and foreign policies are highly complicated and do conflict at times. In the case of ISIS, the U.S. has reason to want to defeat them. However, U.S. aligned groups and allies don't all necessarily share that view, so it is not surprising if a U.S. aligned group has helped to prop-up an ISIS leader.
@9KG94P6 2yrs2Y
A man from the inside is key to decisive destruction of the enemy
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
What does it say about the United States' values if they train militants under a former ISIS chief?
The plan is to release isis on Hezbollah to defend Israel.
@ZealousOwlRepublican2yrs2Y
What are you talking about?
Hezbollah unleashed itself on the Syrian people. ISIS and Hezbollah fought on the same side against the Palestinians of Yarmouk Camp and in Aleppo.
Are you going to tell me that was done to fight Israel?
'You've been drinking the Khomeinist cool aid.
Originally they were supposed to overthrow Assad (secular), then they’d have an Islamist government which would be easier to demonize and bait into military action, which in turn would give Israel pretext to take over the rest of it (they already have Golan) for “Erez Israel”
Hahaha when they did?
Hezbollah literally fought and defeated ISIS
While Americans were arming them
@BureaucratDougGreen2yrs2Y
Lol. They tried that before and failed.
@PoliticBoarsGreen2yrs2Y
Proof that ISIS is a CIA-Mossad project
So, basically he just kept his same job.
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