Routed by ISIS, US-Backed Syrian Rebel Group Vows New Attacks

Rebels Brag of Having 'Successfully Departed' Border Town

US-backed rebel faction the New Syria Army suffered a major defeat yesterday, raiding the ISIS-held border town of al-Bukamal, taking some neighborhoods for a few hours, only to quickly get surrounded and routed by an ISIS ambush.

There were warnings yesterday that the operation was a “test of power,” and one that the rebels failed miserably. With the rebels struggling to reorganize after retreating in a hurry, there was considerable doubt whether they’d even retain what limited territory they had in the first place.

The rebels are trying to put on a brave face after the defeat, praising their fighters for having “successfully departed” al-Bukamal, even though initially the plan was to capture the town and they “departed” in a tremendous hurry.

Now they’re insisting that it was never the plan to take the city, but just to pick a fight with ISIS. Even if that were true, it’s hard to see what they accomplished by going to an important town and getting decisively defeated by ISIS forces.

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.