The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) has received weapons that can “change the balance of power on the ground,” Salim Idriss, head of the FSA’s military command told Al Arabiya on Friday.
Syrian rebels have been battling forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad for more than two years, with the U.N. saying that at least 93,000 people – mostly civilians – have died in the conflict.
The FSA chief has repeatedly appealed for weapons from the international community. In an earlier interview with Al Arabiya, he said that it would take the rebels six months to over throw the Syrian regime is the U.S. agreed to arm them.
“If we only get some armed support, we will continue to battle for a long time. But if receive enough training and arms and are well-organized, I think we need about six months to topple the regime,” Idriss said.
Washington said last week that it will provide military aid to the Syrian opposition after it has been concluded that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against the Syrian people and crossed what President Barack Obama had called a “red line.”
Meanwhile, foreign ministers of the “Friends of Syria” group will meet in Doha on Saturday to address military assistance for the Syrian rebels.
WarSclerotic 
June 21, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Reblogged this on The Blogspaper.
June 21, 2013 at 1:02 PM
If I were Idriss, I wouldn’t count on it; there’s a move in the US Senate to block weapons shipments to Syria. 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election next year, and an overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to any US involvement in Syria. The majority of Brits are against it, too; it’s creating a schism in the conservative party, so don’t count on much help from Cameron, either.
June 21, 2013 at 2:20 PM
there is always the gray market.
June 21, 2013 at 11:57 PM
The rebels will be defeated.