Syria’s Islamist Rebels Refuse Talks With US

US Envoy: Rebels Gave No Reason for Refusal

Syria’s Islamic Front, a Salafist-dominated rebel faction, will not become the Obama Administration’s new official  “US-backed” rebels any time soon, as the group has refused to have any talks with the US.

“The Islamic Front has refused to sit with us without giving any reason,” noted Ambassador Robert Ford, saying the US remains ready to “talk to all parties and political groups in Syria.”

The US interest in the Islamic Front comes as the previous “pro-US” faction, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) continues to lose territory and credibility. The US has cut off aid to the FSA since the Islamic Front seized several warehouses full of aid and chased FSA leader Gen. Idris out of the country.

The Islamic Front apparently didn’t take kindly to the offer of becoming the new FSA, and Syria’s government wasn’t thrilled with the plan either, noting that group’s close ties with al-Qaeda.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.