WASHINGTON (AP) — American and foreign officials say the U.S. is training secular Syrian fighters in Jordan in a bid to bolster forces battling President Bashar Assad's regime and stem the influence of Islamist radicals among the country's persistently splintered opposition.
The officials say the training has been conducted for several months, concentrating largely on Sunnis and tribal Bedouins who formerly served in the Syrian army.
They say the forces aren't members of the Free Syrian Army. Washington and others fear the FSA may be coming under the sway of al-Qaida-linked and other extremist militias.
Officials say the operation is being run by U.S. intelligence and is ongoing.
Others such as Britain and France are involved.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the program.
