TEL AVIV – Russia delivered to the Obama administration a list of the
names of al-Qaida members among the Syrian rebels, who are receiving
arms shipments coordinated by the U.S., according to informed Middle
Eastern security officials.
The list, the officials added, demonstrates the U.S. is failing to
vet the rebels being supported by the West for ties to al-Qaida and
other jihad groups.
The information comes amid scores of news media reports that the
Obama administration is aiding the rebels, including by coordinating
Arab arms shipments.
The arming of Syrian rebels is considered highly controversial. A
major issue is the inclusion of jihadists, including al-Qaida, among the
ranks of the Free Syrian Army and other Syrian opposition groups.
Just last week,
WND broke the story
that the U.S. in recent weeks aided in the transfer of
shoulder-launched, anti-aircraft missiles, or man-portable air-defense
systems, to the Syrian rebels, according to informed Middle Eastern
security officials.
The Middle Eastern security officials speaking to WND said the latest
U.S.-facilitated weapons transfers signify the most advanced deliveries
yet to the Syrian rebels.
Confirming WND’s exclusive reporting for over a year,
the New York Times reported in March that since early 2012, the CIA has been helping Arab governments and Turkey obtain and ship weapons to the Syrian rebels.
While the Times report claims most of the weapons shipments
facilitated by the CIA began after the latest presidential election,
Middle Eastern security officials speaking to WND have said U.S.-aided
weapons shipments go back more than a year, escalating before the Sept.
11, 2012, attack on the U.S. facilities in Benghazi.
In fact, the Middle Eastern security officials speaking to WND since
last year describe the U.S. mission in Benghazi and nearby CIA annex
attacked last September as an intelligence and planning center for U.S.
aid to the rebels in the Middle East, particularly those fighting the
Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The aid, the sources stated, included weapons shipments and was being coordinated with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Earlier this month, Reuters further reported Obama allegedly signed a
secret order in 2012 authorizing U.S. agencies such as the CIA to
provide support to rebel forces in Syria.
The support includes helping to run a secret military communications
command center in Turkey to aid rebel groups. The Reuters article also
said U.S. citizens are training rebels and possibly giving them
equipment, at least since the summer.
The New York Times and Reuters both report the U.S. is working to vet
the rebels for inclusion of al-Qaida, but it is not immediately known
how successful the vetting has been and whether the rebels directly
armed by the U.S. will share their weapons with jihadists within their
ranks.
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