Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — The Western-supported opposition has established a network to acquire and distribute arms to Sunni rebels in Syria.

The Free Syrian Army has reported the establishment of a command designed to receive and distribute weapons and munitions to scores of rebel units in Syria.

FSA chief of staff Gen. Salim Idris said the non-Al Qaida-aligned rebels were being directed by a formal command structure that contained scores of officers.

“We work as an institution that has front leaders and council leaders,” Idris said.

In an interview with the Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al Awsat, Idris, a former Syrian Army brigadier general who defected in July 2012, said FSA drafted standards in the war against President Bashar Assad. He said the Supreme Military Council has appointed commanders for five areas in Syria, each with a deputy.

FSA has also been operating 15 military councils to administer the
revolt against Assad. The combat forces are supported by a General Staff
Department with nearly 100 officers.

“We have five fronts led by our comrades,” Idris said on Oct. 15.
Idris asserted that the rebels were receiving mostly light weapons. He
dismissed reports that FSA units were deploying anti-tank and anti-aircraft
missiles from abroad.

“The fact is that our troops did not receive a single shoulder-mounted
missile because there are tighter regulations on this type of missile,”
Idris said.

Idris said the opposition Syrian National Coalition addressed the issue
of weapons supplies at a recent conference and during his tour of Western
countries, including the United States. He said the need for a secure arms
supply was vital in unifying the rebel movement.

“Great effort has been put into ensuring that our troops are well
organized, especially in organizing the forces on the ground,” Idris said.
“Still, I do not pretend that we have come to an ideal state or condition
and the reason for that is that our material resources are weak, including
our armament.”

The rebel commander dismissed claims that the rebel movement has grown
to 200,000. Idris said no more than 40,000 fighters have acquired the
Russian-origin AK-47 assault rifle.

FSA has captured Syrian main battle tanks, Idris said, including the
T-72, T-62 and T-55. But the general said the rebels have run out of shells
to fire the MBTs, which now represent a burden.

“Weapons that are available to the rebels are mainly small arms, medium
machine guns, RPGs, and B10/B9 anti-tank guns,” Idris said.

Idris dismissed claims that the Assad offensive was threatening the
revolt. He said the rebels were doing well in both northern and eastern
Syria, but acknowledged significant reversals around Damascus.

“If we were able to neutralize the enemy’s air force, even in spite of
his of rocket weaponry and long-range weapons, I think that the field would
tilt in favor of the revolutionaries,” Idris said.

  Bashar Assad, command structure in place, Free Syrian Army, Gen. Salim Idris, Supreme Military Council, Syrian rebels announce non-Al Qaida command structure