Reports: US considering directly aiding Syrian rebels
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is reportedly close to announcing a major policy shift to expand non-lethal assistance to Syrian rebels. The issue will be addressed in Rome on Thursday where nations supporting the Syrian opposition will gather.
During his current nine-nation tour of European and Arab capitals, Secretary of State John Kerry has made coordinating efforts to support the Syrian opposition in its struggle against President Bashar al-Assad a top priority. Wednesday, after meeting with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Kerry emphasized the need to push for an end to the two-year-old conflict that has claimed an estimated 70,000 lives.
“We are examining and developing ways to accelerate the political transition that the Syrian people seek and deserve,” said Kerry.
So far the United States has provided only communications equipment to rebels in Syria. Administration officials have opposed sending military aid, fearing weapons could end up in the hands of radical fighters.
But recent news reports say the U.S. is ready to change that policy and begin directly supplying Syria’s opposition coalition with non-lethal equipment such as body armor, armored vehicles, possibly training and humanitarian aid.
U.S. and European officials say the White House is still weighing the new policy.
In Washington, proponents of American intervention in the Syrian conflict, like Senator John McCain, say non-lethal aid is a step in the right direction but more is needed to help the rebels.
“It is a small measure, and I do not think at this stage of the game that it will positively affect the situation on the ground,” said McCain. “We need a safe zone. We need to supply them with lethal weapons, and we need to support them. And we are not doing that.”
