Syrian rebels backed by the international community called Wednesday for help to fight the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the east of the war-ravaged country.

 

The Free Syrian Army's appeal came a day after ISIS spearheaded a jihadist Sunni offensive in neighboring Iraq that claimed the country's second-biggest city Mosul and a swathe of other northern territory.

 

"The Supreme Military Council calls on all friendly and brotherly Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan, to give aid to the brigades on the ground in Deir Ezzor province so they can confront the terrorist ISIS organization," the FSA said in a statement.