OPPOSITION

U.S. Helps Syrian Rebels

White House stresses giving “nonlethal” assistance.

The Syrian rebels have become better armed in the past few weeks, apparently receiving weapons that have been paid for by its Gulf neighbors and coordinated in part by the U.S., say opposition activists as well as U.S. and foreign officials. The Obama administration has insisted the U.S. is not providing any lethal material, and a senior State Department official said the U.S. is increasing its “nonlethal assistance” to the Syrian opposition. Material is reportedly being stockpiled in Damascus and in the border towns of Idlib and Zabadani. Opposition activists said two months ago that the rebels were running out of ammunition, but they said this week that the flow of weapons has significantly increased since Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states agreed to provide millions of dollars in funding to the rebels.