Syrian rebels in Turkey doubtful over new Arab arms supplies
ANTAKYA, Turkey – Syrian rebels resting and recovering from wounds in Turkey say that far from receiving a host of heavy weapons to take the fight to government forces, they feel forgotten by their Western and Arab backers.
Some rebels and opposition figures inside and outside Syria say there has been an upsurge in recent weeks of heavier weaponry being smuggled into Syria via Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq from suppliers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The weapons, which according to the rebels are being supplied by private sponsors, include thousands of shells, hundreds of sniper rifles, as well as anti-armor missiles.
But in the verdant hills, wooded mountainsides and languid refugee camps of Turkey’s southern Hatay province, Free Syrian Army rebels returning from the fight to rest and tend their wounds, said they had seen no sign of any new weapons. One rebel said less than half the fighters in his unit even had a gun. What weapons they did have, the rebels said, came from inside Syria. “This is an absolute lie. We have not seen anything. If they are coming through Lebanon, maybe, but if they were, we would see these weapons. We don’t see them, where are they?” said one rebel who gave his name only as Ahmad.
"Three months ago I heard that Arab countries were going to send us money or weapons but I have not seen anything. Not one country has sent us money or weapons," said Nasim, a short, stocky, scruffily dressed man in his 30s with a full black beard. "The only weapons we get are by pooling our money together and buying them in Syria, or someone who supports us will come and give us their hunting rifle or something. Sometimes soldiers from the army sell us weapons," he said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idUSBRE85D10P20120614
For those who "clam" that the rebels are being supplied by Western and Gulf governments, you are talking to put it mildly, BS. Read the rest of the article.
