12,000 militants from 81 nationalities fighting in Syria

The Soufan Group, a New York-based intelligence firm, estimated in June that at least 3,000 militants of European origin had been active in several militancy-riddled regions across the Arab country, Washington Post reported.

A recent US Intelligence report says 12,000 militants from 81 nationalities, including Americans and Europeans, have joined terrorist groups fighting against the Syrian government.

US media reports say more than 100 US citizens have also traveled to Syria to fight President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The latest figures come as American and European opponents of the Syrian government voice concern given that militants appear to be biting the hand that feeds them.

The brutal beheading of American journalist James Foley by a Briton fighting in the ranks of ISIL is the latest and most shocking example of foreign militants threatening western interests. This is while the United States has been actively funding and training the militants to fight the Syrian government.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 190,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists.

Since November 2012, CIA operatives and US Special Operations forces have been secretly providing the militants with training on the use of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons in a secret base in Jordan, according to several reports.

The West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are giving financial and military support to the militants. Analysts believe the Syria crisis will backfire on the West as militants are now returning to the countries they came from, including those in Europe