A British defense study shows that about 100,000 foreign-backed militants, fragmented into 1,000 groups, are fighting in Syria against the government and people.\n<\/p>\n
The extracts of the study by defense consultancy IHS Jane’s were published on Monday in The Daily Telegraph<\/i>.\n<\/p>\n
IHS Jane’s estimates that some 10,000 militants are fighting for groups affiliated with al-Qaeda such as al-Nusra Front and the rest fight for different militant groups.\n<\/p>\n
The analysis also said that a large number of extremists from foreign countries are also active in Syria.\n<\/p>\n
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.\n<\/p>\n
According to the UN, more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaced due to the violence.\n<\/p>\n
Al-Nusra and other militant groups accuse Damascus of launching the August 21 chemical weapons attack which they claimed killed about 1,400 people.\n<\/p>\n
The government has rejected the accusation, saying it has proof that the militants were behind the attack.\n<\/p>\n
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