Syrian rebels short of money and arms; Assad ‘re-supplied by Iran and Russia’

Syrian rebels short of money and arms; Assad ‘re-supplied by Iran and Russia’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has determined that the Sunni revolt in Syria was threatened by a shortage of money and weapons. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama and Congress have been told that Sunni rebels were not receiving aid promised by Gulf Cooperation Council and other countries. They said […]

Syrian rebels ‘in dire need’ of sniper rifles, silencers, surface-to-air missiles

Syrian rebels ‘in dire need’ of sniper rifles, silencers, surface-to-air missiles

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Sunni rebel movement has urged foreign supporters for surface-to-air missiles in the war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Free Syrian Army said the rebel force requires shoulder-fired air defense systems to counter Assad’s fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. FSA said it has not received significant weapons […]

Gulf states give millions to arm Syrian rebels; U.S. supplies communications tech

Gulf states give millions to arm Syrian rebels; U.S. supplies communications tech

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Gulf Cooperation Council intends to form a war chest for the Sunni revolt in Syria. GCC states have agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to arm, train and pay Sunni fighters sworn to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Diplomats said the GCC effort would be led by […]

Top Assad intelligence official said killed in rebel ambush

Top Assad intelligence official said killed in rebel ambush

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Syrian opposition has reported the death of a leading intelligence officer in the regime of President Bashar Assad. Opposition sources said Col. Iyad Mando was killed in an ambush by Sunni rebels on March 26 near Damascus International Airport. They said Mando, identified as commander of a key unit […]

‘More militant and Islamized’ Syrian rebels shifting to guerrilla ops

‘More militant and Islamized’ Syrian rebels shifting to guerrilla ops

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Syrian opposition, defeated several times by President Bashar Assad’s military, intends to reorganize in what is expected to result in new leadership. The opposition was to reassess policy and its leadership at a meeting in Turkey on March 22. Joshua Landis, a U.S. professor and director of SyriaComment, said […]

Report: Russia arming Syria; Port at Tartous serves as key strategic asset

Report: Russia arming Syria; Port at Tartous serves as key strategic asset

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Russia has been identified as a leading supporter of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. A report by the International Center for Research and Study on Terrorism and Aide to Victims of Terrorism asserted that Russia was the leading military supplier to the Assad regime. The Paris-based research center […]

Al Qaida tactics seen in bombings of Syrian security buildings

Al Qaida tactics seen in bombings of Syrian security buildings

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Rebels have blown up Syrian security and intelligence government buildings in Damascus. At least 27 people were killed and 140 injured in a series of coordinated suicide bombings in Damascus attributed to Syrian rebels. On March 17, the rebels were said to have targeted government and other facilities in Damascus […]

Seeing Iran officers with Assad forces angered many Syrian military deserters

Seeing Iran officers with Assad forces angered many Syrian military deserters

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Syrian rebel movement, after more than six months of fighting, remains without a chain of command. A leading Middle East analyst who visited rebel strongholds said the Free Syrian Army remains collection of separate cells around Syria. Jonathan Spyer, an Israeli-based analyst who spent several days with FSA, said […]

Reports: Assad forces withdrawing from Aleppo, northern Syria near Turkey

Reports: Assad forces withdrawing from Aleppo, northern Syria near Turkey

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The regime of President Bashar Assad, amid its onslaught of Sunni rebels, appears to be losing control over northern Syria. Opposition sources said Assad’s military and security forces were disappearing from most of northern Syria. They said rebel elements, including those linked to the Free Syrian Army, have taken over […]