US plans to arm Syrian rebels passed one congressional hurdle
but may face more when funding runs out in two months, further delaying
the flow of weapons, US officials and other sources told Reuters news
agency.
The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence panels this month agreed to a White House plan to provide arms to rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite lawmakers' reservations about the its chances of success.
But a US official involved in the issue told Reuters that funding for the classified program runs out on September 30, the end of the government's fiscal year. That means the White House will again have to seek Congress' blessing for arming the rebels, the official said, possibly setting up a renewed confrontation over Washington's policy in the crisis in Syria.
Obama administration representatives have told the Congress that they are setting up a mechanism to vet rebels - including interviews - before handing over weapons, which could also lead to delays.
Sources close to the Syrian rebels said they fear the American arms delivery will be a drawn-out process in which they get a modest amount of arms in an initial tranche, and congressional committees will have to approve more later.
Despite their approval of the White House plan, several US lawmakers expressed doubts on Tuesday that increased American support will be enough to help rebels turn the war's tide, which has shifted sharply to Assad's Iranian-backed forces.
There is also deep concern that the arms could end up in the hands of radical Islamist fighters who are among the rebels' strongest factions.
The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence panels this month agreed to a White House plan to provide arms to rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite lawmakers' reservations about the its chances of success.
But a US official involved in the issue told Reuters that funding for the classified program runs out on September 30, the end of the government's fiscal year. That means the White House will again have to seek Congress' blessing for arming the rebels, the official said, possibly setting up a renewed confrontation over Washington's policy in the crisis in Syria.
Obama administration representatives have told the Congress that they are setting up a mechanism to vet rebels - including interviews - before handing over weapons, which could also lead to delays.
Sources close to the Syrian rebels said they fear the American arms delivery will be a drawn-out process in which they get a modest amount of arms in an initial tranche, and congressional committees will have to approve more later.
Despite their approval of the White House plan, several US lawmakers expressed doubts on Tuesday that increased American support will be enough to help rebels turn the war's tide, which has shifted sharply to Assad's Iranian-backed forces.
There is also deep concern that the arms could end up in the hands of radical Islamist fighters who are among the rebels' strongest factions.
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