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SYRIA REBELS GETTING WEAPONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA
18:56 ~U 17.06.13
Saudi Arabia, a staunch opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
since early in Syria's conflict, began supplying anti-aircraft missiles
to rebels "on a small scale" about two months ago, Reuters reported,
citing a Gulf source.
The shoulder-fired weapons were obtained mostly from suppliers inFrance
and Belgium, the source told Reuters. France had paid for the transport
of the weapons to the region.
The supplies were intended for General Salim Idriss, leader of the
Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), who was still
the kingdom's main "point man" in the opposition, the source said.
The Gulf source said without elaborating that the kingdom had begun
taking a more active role in the Syrian conflict in recent weeks due
to the intensification of the conflict.
A foreign ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
King Abdullah returned to Saudi Arabia on Friday after cutting short
a holiday in Morocco to deal with what state media described as
"repercussions of the events that the region is currently witnessing".
Diplomatic sources in the kingdom say Riyadh has grown increasingly
concerned after the entry of Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah into
the conflict and the subsequent rebel defeat in Qusair.
Speaking to Reuters on Friday, Idriss urged Western allies to supply
anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles and to create a no-fly zone,
saying if properly armed he could defeat Assad's army within six
months.
Idriss said his forces urgently needed heavier weapons in the northern
city of Aleppo, where Assad's government has said its troops are
preparing a massive assault.
The reported Saudi supplies began shortly before its main Western
ally the United States announced it would likely send arms to Syrian
rebels, a development long encouraged by Riyadh.
Top Saudi princes have been shuttling from one ally to another in
recent weeks for meetings about Syria.
The epicenter of this activity was Paris, visited by Interior Minister
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in May, intelligence chief Prince
Bandar bin Sultan and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal this
month.
Saudi Arabian National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah is
there this week after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara. Crown Prince Salman met British Defence Secretary Phillip
Hammond in Jeddah in early June.
Diplomatic sources in Riyadh said Saudi Arabia, France and Britain
shared common ground on pushing Washington to take more decisive
action against Assad.
Saudi Arabia has led Arab opposition to Assad since early in Syria's
revolution. It was the first country to cut diplomatic ties with
Damascus last year and took an early lead in funding and arming the
rebels and helping them logistically.
However, its support has always been tempered by concerns of blowback
from the more militant Islamist groups spearheading the battle against
Assad, diplomatic sources in Riyadh say.
Riyadh has spent years combating domestic militants who waged a
bombing campaign against Saudi and U.S. targets last decade, after
they returned from fighting under the Islamist banner inAfghanistan
and Iraq.
Armenian News - Tert.am
18:56 ~U 17.06.13
Saudi Arabia, a staunch opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
since early in Syria's conflict, began supplying anti-aircraft missiles
to rebels "on a small scale" about two months ago, Reuters reported,
citing a Gulf source.
The shoulder-fired weapons were obtained mostly from suppliers inFrance
and Belgium, the source told Reuters. France had paid for the transport
of the weapons to the region.
The supplies were intended for General Salim Idriss, leader of the
Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), who was still
the kingdom's main "point man" in the opposition, the source said.
The Gulf source said without elaborating that the kingdom had begun
taking a more active role in the Syrian conflict in recent weeks due
to the intensification of the conflict.
A foreign ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
King Abdullah returned to Saudi Arabia on Friday after cutting short
a holiday in Morocco to deal with what state media described as
"repercussions of the events that the region is currently witnessing".
Diplomatic sources in the kingdom say Riyadh has grown increasingly
concerned after the entry of Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah into
the conflict and the subsequent rebel defeat in Qusair.
Speaking to Reuters on Friday, Idriss urged Western allies to supply
anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles and to create a no-fly zone,
saying if properly armed he could defeat Assad's army within six
months.
Idriss said his forces urgently needed heavier weapons in the northern
city of Aleppo, where Assad's government has said its troops are
preparing a massive assault.
The reported Saudi supplies began shortly before its main Western
ally the United States announced it would likely send arms to Syrian
rebels, a development long encouraged by Riyadh.
Top Saudi princes have been shuttling from one ally to another in
recent weeks for meetings about Syria.
The epicenter of this activity was Paris, visited by Interior Minister
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in May, intelligence chief Prince
Bandar bin Sultan and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal this
month.
Saudi Arabian National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah is
there this week after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara. Crown Prince Salman met British Defence Secretary Phillip
Hammond in Jeddah in early June.
Diplomatic sources in Riyadh said Saudi Arabia, France and Britain
shared common ground on pushing Washington to take more decisive
action against Assad.
Saudi Arabia has led Arab opposition to Assad since early in Syria's
revolution. It was the first country to cut diplomatic ties with
Damascus last year and took an early lead in funding and arming the
rebels and helping them logistically.
However, its support has always been tempered by concerns of blowback
from the more militant Islamist groups spearheading the battle against
Assad, diplomatic sources in Riyadh say.
Riyadh has spent years combating domestic militants who waged a
bombing campaign against Saudi and U.S. targets last decade, after
they returned from fighting under the Islamist banner inAfghanistan
and Iraq.
Armenian News - Tert.am