An opposition official has supported reports of US-made TOW anti-tank missiles being delivered to insurgents for the first time.
“Moderate, well-organized fighters from the Hazm movement have for the first time received more than 20 TOW anti-tank missiles from a Western source,” the official said.
Claims have circulated since last week of the deliveries to at least three factions, including Harakat Hazm and the Syrian Revolutionary Front.
More (weapons) have been promised should it be proven that the missiles are being used in an effective way.
Dozens of fighters have been trained with international assistance in the use of these.
The source said the missiles have been used in fighting in Idlib, Aleppo, and Latakia Provinces in northwestern and western Syria, where insurgents have been pursuing offensives.
It is unknown if American officials, who have blocked previous supplies of heavy weaponry, approved of the shipments or if they came from other sources.
National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said:
The United States is committed to building the capacity of the moderate opposition, including through the provision of assistance to vetted members of the moderate armed opposition.
As we have said, we are not going to detail every single type of our assistance.
However, video posted on Tuesday showed identifying marks on one of the missiles which linked it to US armed forces: the weapon had been in the hands of US Marines in 2012.
Just after President Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month, US officials said he had told King Abdullah of a decision “to dramatically expand America’s covert program of assistance”. Saudi counterparts said the King “stressed his desire to see Washington rise to the occasion”.
See Syria Analysis: What the Saudis Told Obama — A 3-Point Guide