Britannia Radio

Unspecified US weapons for Syrian rebels, but no intervention to save Aleppo

Aleppo in the balance

DEBKAfile Special Report Jun 14, 2013, 5:53 AM (IDT)

The White House said Friday that the US would provide “direct military support” for the first time to the Syrian opposition after obtaining proof that the Syrian government had used the chemical weapon sarin against rebel forces. The nature of the package was not specified. The rebels responded to this apparent evasion by demanding anti-aircraft and other advanced arms against deadly Syrian air bombardments. An earlier White House statement amounted to President Barack Obama’s refusal to step in to save Aleppo and Idlib from a decisive Syrian army defeat.

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Qatari Shake-up Anoints Gulf’s Youngest Ruler

Sheikh Tamim’s wavering record on US ties has Washington worried.

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Russian Ready to Stall US Action in Syria

Barack Obama left it too late to deny Russia and Iran profit from Assad’s victory.

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Aleppo Was Last US Window for Influencing Syrian War

Obama rejected the only action that could have stalled the Syrian army’s last big push.

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Barack Obama | Israel | Syria | Bashar Assad | Hizballah | Binyamin Netanyahu | Iran | Iran nuclear

Gulf begins mass expulsion of Lebanese Shiites over Hizballah’s role in Syria

Kuwait acts on the GCC resolution against Hizballah

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
Jun 12, 2013, 3:47 PM (IDT)

Kuwait is the first Gulf emirate ready to act on the resolution of the recent Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Jeddah to punish Hizballah for its “flagrant intervention in Syria” against “freedom fighters.” The Interior Ministry in Kuwait is about to “end the residency of some 2,000 Lebanese Shiite citizens” and shut down their financial and commercial businesses. DEBKAfile: The mass deportation of Lebanese Shiites from the Gulf region will raise tensions with Iran and Hibzallah and may even spark retribution by Iranian and Hizballah sleeper cells.

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