Syria conflict: 5 warring factions - Religious and ethnic minorities. Syria conflict: 5 warring factions - Foreign fighters. Syria conflict: 5 warring factions - The Free Syrian Army. Syria conflict: 5 warring factions - The Syrian opposition. Syria conflict: 5 warring factions - The Assad regime. In this April 30 file photo, Syrian security forces, background, hold their machine guns and surround anti-Syrian regime mourners, foreground, during the funeral procession of the activist Nour al-Zahraa, who was shot by the Syrian security forces on April 29, in Kfar Suseh area, in Damascus, Syria.
(AP/File) After 14 months of rising violence, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has shown no sign of disintegration. Only a handful of minor officials have defected. Mr. Assad has been bolstered by diplomatic and logistical support from Russia, China, and Iran, as well as by the West's reluctance to intervene militarily. The regime also can rely on support from the minority Alawite community. Report: CIA aids in funneling arms to Syrian rebels. • A daily summary of global reports on security issues. (Editor's note: The original headline on this story has been changed to more accurately reflect the CIA's role.) The Syrian conflict is becoming more intractable as rebels, bolstered by weapons from Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, are turning into a more effective adversary against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
According to a report today by The New York Times, the CIA is helping to funnel the arms to rebel groups, vetting potential recipients to avoid arming Al Qaeda-affiliated groups. The weapons include automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, and some antitank weapons, according to the report, which cited unnamed American officials and Arab intelligence officials.
Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of arming Syria, heightening concerns that the conflict could become a proxy war with each side armed by outside powers. Maj. RELATED: Who's who in Syria: 5 key factions. Report: CIA aids in funneling arms to Syrian rebels. • A daily summary of global reports on security issues. (Editor's note: The original headline on this story has been changed to more accurately reflect the CIA's role.) The Syrian conflict is becoming more intractable as rebels, bolstered by weapons from Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, are turning into a more effective adversary against President Bashar al-Assad's regime. According to a report today by The New York Times, the CIA is helping to funnel the arms to rebel groups, vetting potential recipients to avoid arming Al Qaeda-affiliated groups. The weapons include automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, and some antitank weapons, according to the report, which cited unnamed American officials and Arab intelligence officials.
Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of arming Syria, heightening concerns that the conflict could become a proxy war with each side armed by outside powers. Maj. RELATED: Who's who in Syria: 5 key factions.