U.S. may be unable to defend U.S.-backed Syria fighters from Assad

The United States does not appear to have clear-cut legal authority to protect Syrian rebels it trains from attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even if Congress approves new war powers, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.

Still, Carter said a final determination has not been made.

“My understanding of that question is that we don’t foresee that happening any time soon, but a legal determination, I’m told by the lawyers, has not been made, whether we would have authority to do that or not,” he told a Senate hearing.