The United States has stopped pulling new recruits from the battlefield in Syria for training outside the country as the US train-and-equip program is expected to forge a force of what it called "moderate rebels."

The United States has stopped pulling new recruits from the battlefield in Syria for training outside the country as the US train-and-equip program is expected to forge a force of what it called "moderate rebels," a Pentagon spokesman said on Tuesday.

However, the Pentagon said the program was still active, with recruiting and training ongoing.

"As we review the program, we have paused the actual movement of new recruits from Syria," said Peter Cook, the Pentagon spokesman.