US Secretly Providing Heavy Weapons Training for Syrian Rebels

Source : Atlantic Council

iCIA operatives and U.S. special operations troops have been secretly training Syrian rebels with anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons since late last year, months before President Obama approved plans to begin directly arming them, according to U.S. officials and rebel commanders.

The covert U.S. training at bases in Jordan and Turkey, along with Obama’s decision this month to supply arms and ammunition to the rebels, have raised hopes among the beleaguered opposition that Washington ultimately will provide heavier weapons as well. So far, the rebels say they lack the weapons they need to regain the offensive in Syria’s bitter civil war.

The tightly constrained U.S. effort reflects Obama’s continuing doubts about getting drawn into a conflict that already has killed more than 100,000 people and the administration’s fears that Islamic militants now leading the war against President Bashar Assad could gain control of advanced U.S. weaponry. . . .

The number of rebels given U.S. instruction in both countries since the program began could not be determined, but in Jordan, the training involves 20 to 45 insurgents at a time, a rebel commander said.

U.S. special operations teams selected the trainees over the last year when the U.S. military set up regional supply lines to provide the rebels with nonlethal assistance, including uniforms, radios and medical aid.

The two-week courses include training with Russian-designed 14.5-millimeter anti-tank rifles, anti-tank missiles, as well as 23-millimeter anti-aircraft weapons, according to a rebel commander in the Syrian province of Dara who helps oversee weapons acquisitions and who asked his name not be used because the program is secret.

The training began last November at a new American base in the desert in southwest Jordan, he said. So far, about 100 rebels from Dara have attended four courses, while rebels from Damascus have attended three courses, he said. . . .

Brig. Gen. Yahya Bittar, who defected as a fighter pilot from Assad’s air force last year and is now head of intelligence for the Free Syrian Army, said training for the last month or so has taken place in Jordan.

The training, conducted by American, Jordanian and French operatives, involves rockets and anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry, he said.

Between 80 and 100 rebels from all over Syria have gone through the courses in the last month, he said, but training is continuing. Graduates are sent back across the border to rejoin the battle. (photo: Voice of America)

WMD issue in Syria cannot be used in geopolitical games: Russia

Source : Xinhua

MOSCOW, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Syria is an issue not to be used for geopolitical purpose, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"There are countries and external players who believe that all methods are good for overthrowing the Syrian regime. However, the issue of the use of weapons of mass destruction is too serious an we can't joke with it," Lavrov told reporters at a press conference.

Russia saw it "unacceptable" to use the WMD issue as a pretext of pursuing certain geopolitical interests, the diplomat said.

"I believe it is unacceptable to use it and speculate on it," he added.

U.S. officials said on Friday that they suspected the use of the deadly agent sarin in small-scale attacks in Syria. President Barack Obama warned Syria that using chemical weapons would be a "game changer." He also promised a "vigorous" U.S. and international probe into the latest reports.

Syria has denied the accusation. Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi told Russian television Saturday that the U.S. and British accusations are a "barefaced lie."

Zoubi said Friday that Damascus would agree if inspections of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria are conducted by Russian experts.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the UN team was ready to be deployed in 24-48 hours to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

According to Zoubi, the chemical shelling in the town of Khan al-Asal near Aleppo was fired by terrorists based near the Turkish border and the ammunition could be shipped from Turkey.

Editor: Hou Q

Iranian victims of MEK terrorist send letter to Obama

Source  :  http://old.mehrnews.com

TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA) – Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism has condemned inauguration of MEK office in Washington in a letter to Barack Obama.

MNA: The Association (including the families of 17000 Iranian victims of terrorism) has sent a letter to Obama and condemned the opening of MEK office in a street near the White House as violation of UN resolutions against terrorism, and as boost for violence and terrorism.

The letter reads “MEK is a terrorist sect in the strict sense of the term, in that it has evident characteristics of proper sects such as Cult of Personality, undemocratic structure of power, and intense isolation. The most obvious character of sects is their opposition to human rights and democracy. In MEK structure, Masoud and Maryam Rajavi have the last word. These two are worshiped to the level of saints, and the sect members, first of all, should prove their loyalty to them. Cult of Personality has got its ludicrous dimensions inside MEK, replacing even the love of family with the love of Rajavis.”

The Association also points to the undemocratic structure of power inside the MEK as other characteristics of this sect. “Maryam Rajavi has been the leader of the sect for more than 18 years, and during these years, no elections, even based on formality, has been held to select the new leader. The sect is ruled through dictatorial arrangements and far from democratic mechanisms. Some members have launched aborted attempts to escape the Liberty Camp, and generally faced with failure, they have committed suicide,” adds the letter.

“These individuals need psychological treatments,” reads the report, pointing to the terrorist nature of the sect, in addition to its specifics that have made it a sect.

“This sect is responsible for killing of more than 12000 Iranian citizens. So far, no one among the MEK members has confessed their repentance over their past terrorist acts. This proves their excessive interest and lust for violence and terrorist attacks. The sect has not accepted to eliminate the image of arms from their organizational symbol. Its 3400 members have military trainings, and despite their extreme psychological disorders, have been saved inside the MEK for future military and terrorist operations,” reads the letter.

The letter, in closing lines, has called Obama for more prudence about the implications of supporting such terrorist groups as MEK, and believed such acts being violation of international rules and UN resolutions.

The Association is a non-governmental organization which acts under the banner of ‘world without terror.’

SH/MR MNA END

Netanyahu Says Obama Visit to Focus on Iran, Syria, Peace Talks

Via : http://www.almanar.com.lb/

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named on Sunday main topics of US President Barack Obama’s visit to the occupied territories, which is scheduled for the next month.

"The president and I discussed this visit and agreed we would talk about three central issues," Netanyahu said ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, calling it "a very important visit" at a time of great instability in the region.

He said the focus would be on: "Iran's attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons, the instability in Syria and the ramifications for the security of the region and of course Israel and the US, and the attempts to advance the peace process between us and the Palestinians."

Last week, the White House said Obama would make his first visit to the Palestinian occupied territories as president on a trip likely to take place next month. It would also include stops in the West Bank and Jordan.

The White House has kept expectations deliberately low about the possible outcome of the visit, with spokesman Jay Carney saying Obama had no plans to use the trip to advance new proposals to break the deadlocked talks which has persisted for more than two years.

Source: AFP