US airdrops to "moderate" rebels

US MILITARY AIRDROPS TONS OF AMMO TO NEW REBEL GROUP IN SYRIA’S NORTH

A group of US cargo aircraft airdropped overnight some 50 tons of small fire ammunition and explosives to rebels in northern Syria’s Hasakah province, CNN reported Monday citing a US official speaking on condition of anonymity.

South Front,

12 October, 2015

Originally appeared at Sputnik

The broadcaster claimed that this was a first step in a US effort to boost support to what the White House refers to as moderate opposition forces fighting regular Syrian troops loyal to President Bashar Assad.

C-17 cargo planes dropped ammunition on 112 pallets to be retrieved by opposition fighters on the ground from a US-vetted group called by Washington the Syrian Arab Coalition.

According to the CNN, the newly-named Syrian anti-government force was first mentioned by Christine Wormuth, policy undersecretary at the US Defense Department, during Congressional testimony in September.

She said the group was being trained as part of a train-and-equip mission for anti-Assad opposition factions in Syria.

Confirmed by the BBC

Syria conflict: US air drop for anti-IS forces in Hassakeh.

The US military has delivered more than 45 tonnes of ammunition to rebels fighting the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) in north-eastern Syria.

C-17 transport aircraft, accompanied by fighter escorts, dropped pallets of supplies overnight in Hassakeh province, a Pentagon spokesman said.

The consignment reportedly comprised small arms, ammunition and grenades.

It comes days after the US abandoned a $500m (£326m) plan to train thousands of "moderate" rebels to fight IS.

The money will instead be used to provide much-needed ammunition and some weapons to commanders of rebel groups already established on the ground.

International Military Review - Syria, Oct 12, 2015: Myth About Moderate Rebels