EXCLUSIVE: US Trains Rebel Brigades to Secure Chemical Weapons

The US and its allies have hired contractors to train some Syrian rebel brigades in chemical weapons security, Syria Deeply has exclusively learned from four diplomats, including one US official. The sources asked to remain anonymous, as they deal directly with developments in Syria. The training would mark a higher level of coordination between the US and armed opposition forces, working to secure Syria’s chemical arsenal during a period of political turmoil.

According to one of the diplomats, an Arab official, there are 24-hour Skype links connecting the US with rebel brigades, to enhance monitoring of chemical weapons sites on the ground. He also said there are training operations in effect in Jordan, where the US Defense Department has placed roughly 150 Army special operations soldiers to work with Jordanian troops on chemical and biological weapons security.

According to the IISS report, the greatest danger for Syria’s chemical weapons is that non-state actors like Al Qaeda or Hezbollah could gain access to dangerous materials, posing a threat to Israel and the region at large. Islamist rebel groups have been at the forefront of battle and some are believed to have links with Al Qaeda.

[link to alpha.syriadeeply.org]