CIA and US special forces are training Syrian rebels”

Agents of the CIA and members of US special forces have secretly trained Syrian rebel contingents since last year, teaching them to use anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. This was stated by the Los Angeles Times, anonymously citing US officials and Syrian rebel military commanders, according to which the training took place in bases in Jordan and Turkey.
It is not clear how many rebels participated in the training in the two countries, but according to a rebel military commander, in Jordan at each two-week session there were 25 to 45 rebels present.

Courses included the use of 14.5 mm Russian anti-tank rifles and anti-tank rockets, as well as the use of 23 mm anti-aircraft weapons, according to the rebel military commander of the province of Dara. , quoted anonymously by the newspaper.

Noting that the training would begin several months before President Barack Obama’s decision to provide direct military assistance to the rebels, the Los Angeles Times adds that a request for comment, White House spokesman Jay Carney merely answered: ” We have increased our assistance “. Refusing to go into it. “We have provided and will continue to provide substantial assistance to the Syrian opposition, as well as to the Supreme Military Council”, which is fighting the Bashar al Assad regime, short cut the spokesman.

(22 June 2013)