US-made missiles reportedly in hands of Islamist fighters in Syria

Long War Journal ^ | May 6, 2014 | By Lisa Lundquist

[Brad from Tennessee]

While the opposition Syrian National Coalition, headed by Ahmad Jarba, has been meeting with US officials this week in Washington in an effort to secure further support, including more funding and additional antitank and antiaircraft weapons, news from Syria indicates that some advanced US-made weapons are already being used in various Syrian provinces by rebel fighters.

Over the past few weeks, media reports have stressed that US officials have begun a "pilot program" of providing small quantities of advanced weapons, including TOW missiles, to vetted "moderate" groups, and specifically the Harakat Hazm, which fights in a newly formed coalition called the Southern Front.

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Yesterday the opposition activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the Islamic Front, a large coalition of mainly Islamist fighting groups, was using US TOW missiles in clashes in Aleppo against the forces of President Bashar al Assad and allies. According to SOHR, the Islamic Front (which it refers to as "Islamic battalions") employed the weapons in Aleppo's Al Sheik Najjar area and near Al Brej, and possibly near the air force intelligence building in Al Zahraa district as well. . .

[DBrow]

“some advanced US-made weapons are already being used in various Syrian provinces by rebel fighters”

OK, can we stop talking about Benghazi now? lol /s

[Mouton]

Gee, how could this go wrong?

[Finalapproach29er]

Absolute madness. It all just one big game.

[WayneS]

Gee, I wonder how they obtained those...

[Psalm 144]

With vicious stakes.

[C210N]

Gee, I wonder how they obtained those...

Hopefully, nobody died getting it to them.

In particular, hopefully four people didn't die getting it to them.

[Just mythoughts]

Did Libya have US-made weapons? I think had Colonel Q's weapons made it into Obama’s fighters hands, Assad would not still be in power.

I cannot figure out why the president and lord McCain have gone silent on the absolute need for Assad to GO.

[lurk]

The Syrian conflict is nearly over. So the missiles will come in handy in a jihad advance somewhere else in the world. Thanks Mr President, for supporting al queda.

[McGruff]

You mean McCain’s Army?

[DBrow]

Yeah, I don’t see how they could possibly use the advanced missiles against our interests. The USA’s interests, not the White House’s.

[Dr. Thorne]

All this talk that Assad has won the civil war really upset TPTB. They needed to redirect Putin’s focus from Syria, so they fomented war in Ukraine. Now, it’s time for Obuttboy to crank up the “Arab Spring” BS and kick out Assad so The Won’s Muslim jihadi homeboys can take over.

[McGruff]

[sport]

From reading past threads on this subject, I am aware that they are numerous members on this forum that enthustictally support the “freedom fighters". What should make them even more happy is that once they are finished fighting for freedom in Syria, they will move to the United States to continue practicing their trade. In other words, they will be fighting for "freedom" in the United States. When this happens, they should be orgasmically happy.

I know, I know if they do this the police will take them on, right? Only if they are dressed as Bundy ranch hands.

[McGruff]

[EQAndyBuzz]

This won’t end well.

I predict a airliner will be shot down on January 25, 2017 and the MSM and rats will blame President Cruz for it.

[Mastador1]

Gosh, I wonder how that could have happened?

[Cowboy Bob]

Sounds to me to be justification for Assad to use chemical weapons. If the US is going to arm al Qaeda, then Assad certainly has the right to defend himself.

[DoughtyOne]

Okay, can I just way this is the guy I have come to know about and find more disgusting as the days go by.

I have been very reluctant to trash his POW days. Seeing the glee with which he helped facilitate these polices, it causes me to have more doubts about that period in his life than I ever have had before.

Something just isn’t right with this guy. He’s got far too many screws loose.

He was a f-up from his earliest days, and by his own admission. His record until he started flying live missions over Vietnam was disgusting. His record after being released from Hanoi has been disgusting and growing worse.

I have a very hard time thinking he was honorable at any point in his disgusting life. The parts I know about and have seen reported on, good grief what a prick!

[elhombrelibre]

You don’t seem to be able to find a dictator you won’t support. And now you advocate Assad use chemical weapons. And if he does, you’ll say he didn’t use them.