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A source in Syria told Sputnik that the Khorasan group, an al-Qaeda branch, that was allegedly weakened in September during US-led airstrikes in Syria against ISIL militant group and their allies, had never existed.
The Khorasan group, an al-Qaeda branch, that was allegedly weakened in September during US-led airstrikes in Syria against ISIL militant group and their allies, had never existed, a source in Syria told Sputnik on Thursday.
“This group has never existed; military alignments that were involved in Syria’s conflict had not heard of it,” the source who wished to remain anonymous, said.
In September, US media reported, quoting Pentagon officials, that the coalition’s airstrikes against the Khorasan group were “very successful.”
US President Barack Obama called the group “seasoned al-Qaeda operatives.”
On Thursday, The Independent published an article arguing that the Khorasan group has returned and reportedly recruits new fighters.
Meanwhile, the United States’ newscaster Katie Couric said that the Khorasan is a small network of an estimated 50 al-Qaeda veterans “who set up shop in Syria, benefiting from the cover of civil war and the protection of the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front.”
The Syrian source told Sputnik that Khorasan group had been invented by the West to address its goals in the region.
The Syrian source reminded that according to the documents, revealed by NSA whistleblower in 2014 Edward Snowden, ISIL, is “a product of the American, British and Israeli Intelligence agencies.”
The Syrian civil war began in 2011 following an anti-government uprising. For over three years the Syrian Army has been fighting various insurgent groups, including ISIL and al-Nusra front.
The US-led coalition has been carrying airstrikes against ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria for over half a year.
