Speaking remotely at the Wednesday press conference will be three rebel commanders who have led major operations inside Syria and/or have interacted with Ford in his official capacity:
- Col. Abdul-Jabbar Akidi: Led Free Syrian Army forces when they first entered Aleppo City in 2012, turning the city into the main rebel population center. Later facilitated Syria's first democratic provincial elections since 1963. Resigned in frustration in 2013, but remains very active on the front lines. One of the moderate, vetted generals who have received U.S. assistance.
- Col. Afif Suleiman: As head of Free Syrian Army forces in Idlib Province since May 2012, he oversaw the liberation of the vast majority of the province from Assad control. Since early 2014, he has also been a leading coordinator of the rebel offensive that successfully expelled ISIS from most of its former strongholds in Idlib.
- Mustafa Berro ("Abu Qutaiba"): As Deputy Commander of the Mujahideen Army coalition, initiated the January 2014 rebel offensive against ISIS with an attack on the then-Al-Qaeda affiliate's positions in Atarib town. Rebel forces went on to score major victories against ISIS in Abu Qutaiba's area.
This event is sponsored by the Coalition for a Democratic Syria and the Human Rights Alliance for Syria.
About the Coalition for a Democratic Syria
The Coalition for a Democratic Syria
is a group of Syrian-American non-profit organizations working together
to bring about a swift end to the conflict and support the
establishment of peace, freedom, and democracy in Syria.
The CDS is a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional, non-partisan
organization. The CDS includes: Syrian Emergency Task Force, Syrian
American Council, United for Free Syria, Syrian American Alliance,
Syrian Christians for Peace, and the Association of Free Syrians.
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