The government of Syria says According to them, a brigade of 120 French soldiers part of a transmission unit came to support the rebels were caught by forces loyal to the Syrian regime in the region of Zabadani, after they took control of a key neighborhood in the city of homes.

The news of the arrests follow admissions from the Syria rebels to journalists earlier in the week that the US and France were supplying anti-aircraft missiles and other arms to the opposition forces.

So far French and western media outlets have not reported on the claims but instead have been awkwardly silent.