The abductions illustrate the challenges confronting the Obama administration as it seeks to marshal local insurgents to fight the Islamic State group, which it views as the biggest threat in the region.
ANTAKYA, Turkey —
A Pentagon program to train moderate Syrian insurgents to fight the Islamic State group has been vexed with problems of recruitment, screening, dismissals and desertions that have left only a tiny band of fighters ready to do battle.
This tiny band, 54 in all, suffered perhaps the most destructive problem yet Thursday: Its leader, deputy and at least five others were abducted in Syria, just inside the border with Turkey where they had been training.