Officials said the Syrian security forces have captured Jordanians
accused of joining the revolt. In one case, they said, 10 Jordanians were
identified as shooting toward civilians in an effort to inflame opposition
against Assad.
A Defense Ministry official confirmed that foreign Arab nationals were
in custody in connection with the revolt. The official told the
Brussels-based International Crisis Group that foreigners from Lebanon and
Saudi Arabia were paying Syrians to demonstrate against Assad, particularly
in the southern city of Dera, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The Saudis are also pouring money into Dera," the official was quoted
as saying. "And there are Lebanese providing slogans and paying people to
demonstrate."
Palestinians from several countries were said to be involved in the
smuggling of weapons to insurgents in Syria. Officials said Turkey was also
helping the insurgents and provided communications to an Islamic force that
killed 120 Assad troops in Jisr Al Shughur in late June.
"This was an excellent example of the foreign influence in this
campaign," the official said. "The communications and weapons found in Jisr
were from Iraq and Turkey and the methods reflected Al Qaida operations in
Iraq."
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