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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| US to Send Direct Aid to Syrian Rebels |
| 2013-02-28 |
| For the first time, the United States will provide direct support to Syrian rebel fighters, Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Thursday. "I am proud to announce that the United States of America will be providing an additional $60 million immediately in non-lethal assistance to support the coalition," Kerry, who was in Rome meeting with leaders of SyriaÂ’s opposition council, said. The U.S. has already provided about $50 million of non-lethal assistance to SyriaÂ’s political opposition, including providing communications equipment like radios and computers to advocates and political opposition councils. The new aid will consist of more non-lethal supplies, like food and medicine. It will be given to fighters who have been carefully vetted to have no ties to terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda. "This funding will allow the opposition to reach out and help the local councils to be able to rebuild in their liberated areas of Syria," Kerry said. Ahead of his announcement Thursday, Kerry acknowledged that the Syrian opposition needs more help. Speaking in Paris on Wednesday, Kerry said the United States still believes that a political solution is the best way to end the bloodshed, but after two years of conflict itÂ’s clear that the process needs to be sped up. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #1 It will be given to fighters who have been carefully vetted to have no ties to terrorist groups That's a higher standard than the EBT-card program has. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-02-28 15:41 |