Only ‘4 or 5’ US-Trained Syrians Are Still in the Fight Against ISIS

September 16, 2015 By Molly O'Toole |  http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/09/only-4-or-5-us-trained-rebels-are-still-fighting-syria/121136/?oref=defenseone_today_nl

It’s far from the 15,000 envisioned over three years, CENTCOM commander Gen. Austin conceded to lawmakers.

Only “four or five” U.S.-trained Syrians are still fighting, the embattled tatters of the Pentagon’s $500 million program to train and equip a 15,000-strong ground force to take the fight to the Islamic State in Syria.

“It’s a small number, the ones that are in the fight—we’re talking four or five,” U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Lloyd Austin told the Senate’s Armed Services Committee Wednesday morning.http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/09/only-4-or-5-us-trained-rebels-are-still-fighting-syria/121136/?oref=defenseone_today_nl