Photos show British commandos on the ground in Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Newly released images, dating from June, shows British commandos equipped with sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and artillery on Syrian territory near the border with Jordan. 

 

Released by the BBC these are the first images which show the commandos patrolling the Al Tanaf base in Syria’s east – where they, with the US, had been aiding and training a militia called the New Syrian Army they hoped to use against Islamic State (ISIS) – after it was attacked by ISIS militants. 

 

The soldiers were reportedly maintaining a defensive posture following that attack. 

 

“We are receiving special forces training from our British and American partners. We’re also getting weapons and equipment from the Pentagon as well as complete air support,” a New Syrian Army spokesman told the BBC.

 

Britain’s Ministry of Defense did not comment on its overseas special forces operations. 

 

Tanaf was bombed last June by the Russian warplanes, in what they claimed was an accident. Later that month the US-led coalition suddenly withdrew that air support to bomb a convoy of ISIS militants fleeing from Fallujah. 

 

Aside from British special forces the American and the French have sent special forces into Syria to assist and train the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who have been advancing against ISIS for several months, with several victories under their belt.