Konflikten i Syrien

The House voted for the first time today to explicitly authorize the incoming Donald Trump administration to arm vetted Syrian rebels with anti-aircraft missiles.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/12/defense-ndaa-congress-manpads-syria.html#ixzz4SNkDVswL

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/12/06/congress-just-gave-trump-the-authority-to-send-surface-to-air-missiles-to-syrian-fighters/?utm_term=.289ecd95a3ec

he House passed a defense bill last week that included language giving the incoming Trump administration the authority to send shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles to rebel groups fighting in Syria.

While the bill provides certain restrictions for transferring the controversial weapons, known as MANPADS or Man Portable Air Defense Systems, it represents a significant shift from prior iterations of the legislation. The missile-related language, first reported by Al-Monitor, also contradicts international guidelines championed by the United States that imply a de facto ban on transferring the shoulder-fired weapons to nonstate actors.

A source on Tuesday told Middle East Eye that the US had confirmed it would allow the two Gulf states to begin shipments.

"The US confirmed the green light to begin sending them to rebels through supply routes still open through Jordan and Turkey," the source said. "Rebels are being told only to target Syrian helicopters, not Russian - but it's not clear they will abide by this.

"The US won't let Aleppo fall. We can expect to see Syrian helicopters falling from the sky within weeks."

However, the source warned that such an escalation could provoke regional blowback - suggesting Iran, an ally of the Syrian government, would respond by shipping similar missiles to Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

[url]http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/aleppo-must-not-fall-us-preparing-flood-city-anti-air-missiles-154690394[/url