'US military intends to obtain intelligence rather train opposition'

Mustafa Suleyman, one of the opposition fighters who took part in the training program, said the participants had a difficult time with American troops during his time in a train-and-equip camp in Jordan.

“I think they took us to the camp to collect information rather than train us.

During our seven-week period in the camp, we struggled with the Americans."

The train-and-equip program started a year ago. The United States, Turkey, and other members of the coalition group fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levent (ISIL) agreed to launch the program. It was intended to train and equip moderate

Syrian opposition forces and prepare them to fight against both ISIL militants and Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The program was originally planned to take place in Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but it was only implemented in Turkey and Jordan. According to the first phase of the plan, 1,000 fighters from the moderate Syrian opposition would be trained.

However, only a total of 154 men were trained by both Turkey and Jordan under the 30th Division, established by the US specifically to combat ISIL.

Suleyman, 22, who had been fighting with a brigade under the opposition 30th Division, said the men were told of a train-and-equip program in Jordan and asked to participate.

“We were not professional. We needed training and weapons, so we accepted," he said.

“We were surprised when we were interviewed by US army officers, because we thought the program would be run by Jordanian troops."

“They asked us every detail, from our jobs to our ancestors' names."

Suleyman said only 90 out of 3500 were accepted for the program. “Thousands of our friends were sent back."

“In April, we were taken to a military area in in Jordan by military aircraft," he said. The camp was controlled by the US military, but the trainers were Jordanians.

“We were trained to use RPGs, mortars, M16, Dock and cars."

Suleyman claimed the US army officers tried to get intelligence information about opposition groups fighting in Syria.

“They tried to learn about the groups fighting in the area, especially about Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham."

"Then they asked us to sign an agreement to fight against al-Nusra. We refused, because we did not start the war to shoot each other. We didn't have any problem with al Nusra; we were even fighting together in the field.

"They glared at us when we spoke Turkish among ourselves. They tried to find out what we were talking about. Actually we were talking about the Syrian crisis and our families but they didn't trust us and assigned a man from the opposition to gather information. But he didn't understand Turkish."

“Americans tried to feed us pork"

“They were putting the Jordanian cooks out of the kitchen and cooking pork for themselves. But one Friday we understood that they were trying to feed us pork. We refused and argued with them."

Suyleman was expelled before completing the program.

“After seven weeks, they expelled me and 60 others because they said we broke the rules."

He claimed the US officers harassed them in various ways and said, “I would not go there again, even if they call me."