SYRIAN REBELS RECEIVE MISSILES FROM SAUDIS AND U.S.
RIYAHD - The U.S. and Saudi governments are providing anti-armor missiles to certain Syrian rebel groups, according to U.S. officials. Pictures recently appeared online of Syrian rebels apparently operating a U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-armor missile system. Now, information has surfaced that these missiles are part of a pilot program begun in March.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have provided about a dozen TOW missile systems to the rebels. The U.S. government will not confirm or deny the provision of TOW missiles to the rebels. One report claims the TOW systems have a fingerprint-keyed security device that controls who can fire the missile.
Certain Western-backed rebel groups have undergone a reorganization to create a more effective military force. The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is receiving help from Russia and Iran, as well as ground troops from Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group.