Pentagon Denies U.S.-Trained Rebels Defected to al-Qaeda Affiliate in Syria

(Los Angeles Times) W.J. Hennigan and Nabih Bulos - The Pentagon said Wednesday that there is no evidence that a U.S.-trained and equipped proxy force in Syria has defected to an al-Qaeda affiliate. The denial comes amid a flurry of reports that a U.S.-backed commander, along with 70 fighters, had joined the Al Nusra Front after receiving training and weapons in Turkey.