clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

US freezes military aid to Syrian opposition

February 22, 2017 at 9:12 am

Free Syrian Army members are seen on October 27, 2016 [Hüseyin Nasır/Anadolu Agency]

CIA coordinated military aid to the Free Syrian Army in northwestern Syria has been frozen after the group came under two major attacks from Daesh forces last month.

Sky News reported opposition groups saying that there was no official explanation for the move, but many believe the main objective is to prevent arms and cash falling into the hands of Daesh. The officials expect the freeze to be temporary.

US officials familiar with the aid programme said the freeze came as a result of the assault and not as part of a change in the US administration’s policies.

The US administration had indicated earlier that it is working with Congress to provide new non-lethal aid worth about $70 million to the Syrian opposition. This comes at a time when the US army prepares to train and equip Syrian opposition fighters to combat Daesh.