PRESS RELEASE

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U.S. May Provide Syrian Terrorists with MANPADs

Sept. 27, 2016 (EIRNS)—In the aftermath of the collapse of the Kerry-Lavrov cease fire deal, the United States is now threatening to allow the supply of surface-to-air missiles to the terrorist groups, though not directly by the United States. One consequence of the latest diplomatic failure may be that Gulf Arab states or Turkey could step up arms supplies to rebel factions, including shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADs), unnamed U.S. officials told Reuters.

"The Saudis have always thought that the way to get the Russians to back off is what worked in Afghanistan 30 years ago—negating their air power by giving MANPADs to the mujahideen,"

said one U.S. official.

"So far, we’ve been able to convince them that the risks of that are much higher today because we’re not dealing with a Soviet Union in retreat, but a Russian leader who’s bent on rebuilding Russian power and less likely to flinch,"

this official said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Another administration official said,

"The opposition has a right to defend itself [as if the opposition were a sovereign power—ed.] and they will not be left defenseless in the face of this indiscriminate bombardment."