TOW missile Is U.S. max support for rebels : source

WASHINGTON (Zaman Alwasl) — The long-awaited meeting by western-backed opposition with U.S. President Barack Obama finally held on Tuesday.

Mr. Obama, who met with Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba, has praised the coalition's role in trying to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria, the White House said in a statement.

The meeting came near the end of Jarba's week-long visit to Washington, where the United States officially recognized the Syrian National Coalition as a diplomatic foreign mission and boosted assistance to the group.

"President Obama welcomed the coalition's leadership and constructive approach to dialogue, and encouraged the coalition to further its vision for an inclusive government that represents all of the people of Syria," the White House said.

Jarba and his 9-member delegation were meeting with Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser, and Obama joined the meeting, the White House said.

"The delegations also discussed the risks posed by growing extremism in Syria and agreed on the need to counter terrorist groups on all sides of the conflict," the White House said.

The United States boosted non-lethal aid to the moderate opposition by $27 million, bringing total assistance to about $287 million. The United States has also provided $1.7 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria and its neighbors during the crisis, the White House said.

The moves come at a critical time in the conflict as Assad's government has made recent battlefield gains and is planning presidential elections in June. The administration is considering taking additional steps in the coming days, including the possibility of levying new sanctions on the Assad regime.

In the White House statement, there was no mention in the statement of Jarba's previous request to the US for anti-aircraft weapons to combat bombing raids by Assad's forces, the AFP news agency reported.

Officials privately acknowledged that he made the request in talks with Secretary of State John Kerry last week, but they refused to tell reporters Kerry's response.

Washington is worried that such weapons could eventually end up in the hands of groups hostile to the US and its allies and could even pose a threat to commercial aircraft.

Analysts said Obama has been reluctant to commit American forces to another foreign conflict, after its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Liz Sly, chief of Washington Post bureau in Beirut, told Zaman Alwasl that Obama administration will not provide opposition by new advanced weapons as the U.S. aid will restricted by non-lethal weapons.

Sly pointed out that TOWs anti-craft missile is the roofer top of U.S. administration support.

Meanwhile, reports said that rebel groups have already received TOWs anti-tank missiles, which are specially designed to destroy tanks and pierce reinforced bunkers.

The US is sending missiles to Syrian rebels as part of a “pilot program” to strengthen the opposition, American media reveals.

Washington’s new initiative aims to find out whether it can supply opposition forces in Syria with weapons without them falling into the hands of Islamist extremists, American officials told USA Today on condition of anonymity.

Hazm Movement, powerful rebel group in Homs province and north Syria, assured to Zaman Alwasl that the American promises still ‘promises’, denied receiving TOW anti-craft missile as many media outlets circulated.

Hazm said we are promised to receive anti-crafts missile in the close future but there's not deadline for that.

Earlier U.S. sanctions on Assad and his associates have had little impact in stemming the bloody civil war that has stretched into a fourth year. More than 150,000 people have been killed in the clashes between rebels and forces loyal to Assad, with millions of others displaced by the war.

Opp delegation missed Ghalioun

According to Zaman Alwasl sources the coalition delegation cpnsisted of Ahmad jarba, Michel Kilo, Salah Darwish, Najib Ghadban, Hadi al-Bahra, Hassan al-Hashimi, Monzer aqbiq Anas al-Abdeh.

Veteran dissident Dr. Burhan Ghalioun was the notable absentee, observers said. (With agencies)

Obama, in meeting with Syria's Jarba, praises leadership in crisis

Rebel group denies receiving TOW anti-crafts missiles, still promises says

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Zaman Alwasl