Russia: Syria rebels have US-made weapons

A senior Russian general has said Syrian rebels now have anti-aircraft weapons, including US-made Stingers.
 
Gen Nikolai Makarov was quoted by the Interfax news service as saying the origin of the surface-to-air missiles should be “cleared up”.
 
Aerial bombardment of rebel-held towns continued on Wednesday, as the UN’s Syria envoy prepared to brief the Security Council on ceasefire efforts.
 
“We have reliable information that Syrian militants have foreign portable anti-aircraft missile systems, including those made in the USA… it should be cleared up who delivered them,” Gen Makarov told journalists in Russia.
 
There have been earlier unconfirmed reports of the Syrian opposition having shoulder-mounted missiles, but the west has been reluctant to openly arm the rebels.
 
In August, Syrian rebels said they had shot down a fighter jet near the border with Iraq.   Read more... (144 words)

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