Syria Denounces US Plan to Train, Equip Anti-ISIS Rebels

The Syrian state news agency on Friday attacked U.S. military plans to train and equip Syrian rebels, saying they amounted to support for terrorists.

The plan is part of the U.S. strategy to roll back the Islamic State group that has seized much of eastern and northern Syria. Senior American officials met Syrian opposition and civil leaders in Istanbul this week to discuss the program.

A Pentagon spokesman told Reuters on Thursday the military is planning to deploy more than 400 troops to help train the Syrian rebels.

"Washington continues supporting terrorism in Syria and announces its intention to send 400 soldiers to train the terrorists," SANA, the state-owned news agency, said.

The Syrian government has depicted the entire armed opposition as terrorists since civil war erupted in 2011.

The insurgency, however, is today dominated by hardline Islamist groups, including Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. The nonjihadist opposition has little presence.

The United States has not yet said exactly which elements of the opposition it plans to train, though it says the support will go to moderates.

Syria has said it is ready to be part of an international effort to fight the Islamic State. But the United States, which is leading a coalition in airstrikes against Islamic State forces in both Syria and Iraq, has said Syrian President Bashar Assad is part of the problem.