White House Authorizes Covert US Support For Syrian Rebels

President Obama. Photo: PETE SOUZA

Exclusive: Obama Authorizes Secret U.S. Support For Syrian Rebels -- Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government, U.S. sources familiar with the matter said.

Obama's order, approved earlier this year and known as an intelligence "finding," broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust Assad.

This and other developments signal a shift toward growing, albeit still circumscribed, support for Assad's armed opponents - a shift that intensified following last month's failure of the U.N. Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against the Damascus government.

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Update #1: Obama authorizes secret US support for Syrian rebels -- NBC
Update #2: Obama authorizes covert US support for Syrian rebels – reports -- RT

My Comment: This changes the dynamics on the ground in Syria appreciably.