Syrian rebels boosted by flow of Arab weaponry

NEWLY armed with mortars, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades smuggled across borders in lorries or on donkeys, Syria’s rebels are stepping up their fight against president Bashar al-Assad.

They say they are regrouping against a Syrian army showing signs of low morale, amid desertions and equipment failures.

Yesterday, state TV claimed the rebel Haffa region near the Mediterranean coast had been recaptured after an eight-day siege and a rebel withdrawal, but rebels elsewhere in Syria said they were now ready to meet Mr Assad’s forces head-on.

Thousand of shells and hundreds of sniper rifles, as well as anti-armour missiles, have been smuggled in via Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq in recent weeks, much of them from suppliers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, fighters and opposition figures said.

“Now the Free Army has more sophisticated weapons. We still have less than we need but it is entering the country,” said a fighter in the north-western province of Idlib.

“It still does not cover all we need because the number of fighters is increasing. Thousands of soldiers are still waiting in Turkey for weapons,” he added.

Some areas are stronger than others, with Idlib the best equipped and organised, say rebels. “It is the headquarters of the Free Army right now. It is almost a buffer zone, almost independent. Most of the Free Army soldiers go there because it is close to Turkey,” said one fighter. “The regime cannot take on Idlib right now. It is using helicopters because it has suffered many losses recently there.”

Rebels have killed scores of soldiers in the past ten days after stepping up their campaign. Video released by activists has shown burning tanks and armoured personnel carriers destroyed by their new weapons.

A fighter said: “Recently a lot of weapons have entered Syria. We are getting ready and we will create a balance of horror. The days when hundreds of us are killed will be soon over. In my city we have received at least 10,000 rockets and 100 sniper rifles.

“What is left for [Assad]? Using planes? We will get weapons for that too. Nothing will stop us. The world has decided to finally get rid of him and we are ready.”

Rebels – described by Mr Assad as foreign-backed terrorists – say they are ready to “liberate” some towns but are still considering whether they can hold them without an international buffer or no-fly zone to sideline Mr Assad’s air force.

Mohamed Sermini, of the Syrian National Council, called for the insurgents to be supplied with anti-aircraft missiles.

“Weapons have entered Syria recently but it is not enough,” he said. “We have not enough missiles.”

“Some Western countries have promised us to help with arming us but so far it is only promises,” said a senior rebel who declined to be named. “Qatar and Saudi are of great help. It is not the states sending us the weapons. It is individuals but with the blessing of these two states.”