Syrian rebels have been sent "excellent quantities" of ground-to-ground Grad missiles by foreign backers in recent days, to help them confront a Russian-backed offensive by the government north of Aleppo, two rebel commanders told Reuters on Friday.
"It is excellent additional fire power for us," said one of the commanders, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The second rebel commander said the missiles were being used to hit army positions beyond the front line. "They give the factions longer reach," he said.
Foreign opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have been supplying vetted rebel groups with weapons via a Turkey-based operations centre. Some of the vetted groups have received military training overseen by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
The commanders said the missiles had been sent to the rebels since the start of the offensive, which has cut rebel supply lines from the Turkish border to opposition-held parts of the city of Aleppo. The Aleppo offensive is backed by Russian air strikes.
One of the commanders said Grad missiles had previously been supplied to rebels, but in "very little" quantities.
The provision of Grad missiles falls short of the rebels' appeal for anti-aircraft missiles, which they say they need to confront the Russian air force. Russia has been conducting air strikes in support of Assad since Sept. 30. (Reuters)
"It is excellent additional fire power for us," said one of the commanders, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. The second rebel commander said the missiles were being used to hit army positions beyond the front line. "They give the factions longer reach," he said.
Foreign opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have been supplying vetted rebel groups with weapons via a Turkey-based operations centre. Some of the vetted groups have received military training overseen by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
The commanders said the missiles had been sent to the rebels since the start of the offensive, which has cut rebel supply lines from the Turkish border to opposition-held parts of the city of Aleppo. The Aleppo offensive is backed by Russian air strikes.
One of the commanders said Grad missiles had previously been supplied to rebels, but in "very little" quantities.
The provision of Grad missiles falls short of the rebels' appeal for anti-aircraft missiles, which they say they need to confront the Russian air force. Russia has been conducting air strikes in support of Assad since Sept. 30. (Reuters)
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