Report: Syrian Rebels Meet US Diplomats, Sophisticated Weapons to Fight Al-Assad
The British "Daily Telegraph" newspaper reported Saturday that "a senior Free Syrian Army representative has met with the American ambassador to Syria about the US providing weapons to fight regime forces."
According to the daily, "the rebel leaders' visit to Washington included meetings with Ambassador Robert Ford and Frederick Hoff, special coordinator for the Middle East."
"The US had advanced contingency plans to supply heavy weapons to the rebels, including sophisticated anti-tank weapons and surface to-air-missiles," it added.
An unnamed diplomatic source quoted by the paper said "military intervention in Syria was now inevitable."
"The intervention will happen. It is not a question of if, but when. The Libyans are willing to provide the anti-tank weapons, others are prepared to pay for it," the source said.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have already admitted to having helped the rebels financially, and have suggested they are providing them with weapons.
Increasing violence has led the country closer towards civil war in recent weeks, with both Gulf states and the Syrian regime playing on sectarian tensions.
The "Daily Telegraph" has learned that "advanced contingency plans are already in place to supply heavy weapons to the rebels, including sophisticated anti-tank weapons and surface to-air-missiles."
Senior Middle Eastern diplomatic sources said that "Libyan-supplied weapons, paid for by Saudi Arabia and Qatari government funds and private donations, had already been stockpiled in anticipation of the "inevitable" intervention needed to end al-Assad regime."
The sources said that "the Obama administration was fully aware of the preparations being made to arm Syrian opposition groups."
"The intervention will happen. It is not a question of 'if', but 'when'. The Libyans are willing to provide the anti-tank weapons, others are prepared to pay for it," the source said.
"The US has also agreed to be part of a group of countries that coordinates assistance to the rebels," the sources said, "but was still deliberating over the time frame for escalation."
Source: Daily Telegraph , Edited by moqawama.org
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