Shake-up of U.S.-backed Syrian rebel group ordered

The Syrian opposition group has long faced complaints that its leaders spend too much of their time in five-star hotels in Turkey and in allied Persian Gulf states, although Bashir was officially said to have been based in Syria.

Most commanders “no longer have a presence on the ground in Syria and live on Turkish soil,” said Tomeh, a dentist with a long history in Syrian opposition circles.

“A new force on the battlefield deserves to be represented,” Tomeh told Al Arabiya.

The overhaul drew condemnation from the ousted military leadership. In a statement, the former commanders described the decision as “irresponsible” and a “gross legal mistake.”