Obama authorizes secret support for Syrian rebels

Source: Tanjug

LONDON -- U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government.

Barack Obama (Beta, file)

This is according to sources familiar with the matter.
Obama's order, approved earlier this year and known as an intelligence "finding," broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust Assad, Reuters says.

The White House is for now apparently stopping short of giving the rebels lethal weapons, even as some U.S. allies do just that, Reuters has reported.

On the other hand, White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor refused to comment.

The State Department said on Wednesday the U.S. government had set aside a total of USD 25mn for "non-lethal" assistance to the Syrian opposition. A U.S. official said that was mostly for communications equipment, including encrypted radios.

The State Department also says the U.S. has set aside USD 64mn in humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people, including contributions to the World Food Program, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other aid agencies, Reuters points out.