Al Qaeda-linked groups operating alongside Syria’s rebels are growing stronger, analysts told Congress on Tuesday, countering recent claims by the
Obama administration and some senior lawmakers that extremists are playing only a marginal role in the civil war.
“
Al Qaeda and its allies dominate a large portion of northern
Syria and play a key role in fighting throughout the rest of the country,”
Thomas Joscelyn, an analyst with the Washington-based
Foundation for Defense of Democracies, testified before the
House Homeland Security Committee.
While
Mr. Joscelyn said “
al Qaeda does not control the entire rebellion, which is made up of a complex set of actors,” his testimony stood in stark contrast to that provided last week by Secretary of State
John F. Kerry, who sought to downplay the role of extremists among Syria’s opposition fighters.
Mr. Kerry had followed the lead of
Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, during hearings last week by touting the work of
Syria analyst
Elizabeth O'Bagy, a researcher at the Washington-based
Institute for the Study of War.
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