Diplomat Says Saudi Sends Military Equipment to Syria Rebels, Jordan Denies
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Saudi Arabia is delivering military equipment to Syrian rebels in an effort to stop bloodshed by President Bashar Assad's regime, a top Arab diplomat said on Saturday.
"Saudi military equipment is on its way to Jordan to arm the Free Syrian Army," the diplomat told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.
"This is a Saudi initiative to stop the massacres in Syria," he added saying further "details will follow at a later time."
The announcement came two days after the kingdom said it had shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrawn its entire staff.
However, Jordan rejected the report.
"Jordan categorically denies the report," government spokesman and Information Minister Rakan Majali told AFP. "This is completely baseless."
Riyadh has taken a strong stance against the escalating bloodshed and, along with its five Gulf Cooperation Council partners, expelled Syrian envoys last month and withdrew their own over the "mass slaughter" of civilians.
Earlier this month, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal publicly defended the right of the Syrian opposition to arm itself.
"It is the right of the Syrians to arm themselves in order to defend themselves. Weapons used to target homes are used in wars with enemies," he said.
King Abdullah had also previously called for "critical measures" to be taken on Syria, warning of an impending "humanitarian disaster."
Last week, Syrian Information Minister Adnan Mahmoud told AFP Saudi Arabia and Qatar were backing "armed terrorist gangs" operating in the country and are therefore responsible for the resulting bloodshed.
"Some of the countries backing armed terrorist gangs, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are accomplices to the terrorism targeting the Syrian people ... and bear responsibility for the bloodletting," he said.
Those charges were renewed on Syrian state television on Saturday after two huge bomb blasts killed at least 27 people and wounded almost 100 in central Damascus.
"Saudi Arabia is sending us terrorists," a resident of the devastated areas said on television.
"These are the friends ... of the Istanbul council," said another, referring to the opposition Syrian National Council set up in the Turkish city last August.
At least 9,100 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the uprising against Syria's President Bashar Assad began in March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
17 March 2012, 15:27
83
This is quite backwards. Before putting gasoline into the tank, know that the car will run. The vehicle of the SNC is not organized or disciplined enough for an infusion of capital, yet. Though much is at stake, they still fight among each other. In Lebanon, it was the same way, and it still is. All of our people want to be leaders and none wish to be followers in a great cause. Yet another way that Lebanese and Syrians are of common kindred.
However, this time, the instinctive will not to follow is lethal. If this Uprising fails, Assad will hunt them all down and kill them one by one. They must organize, we must help them organize and then with Saudi funding, there is a chance of success.
18 March 2012, 06:59
10
The IDF points to a "regular transfer" of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah that began even before the rebellion against President Bashar Assad's government. Still, since Assad lost complete control, the weapon transfers have increased, and include drones and shore-to-ship missiles. "The more Assad loses his grip, the transfers will increase," the officer explained. "We're troubled by the transfer of strategic components from Syria to Lebanon, and if that happens, it might be cause for a more active response," he added.
18 March 2012, 08:35
00
Nice, they are all talk. Israel only wants to deal with sitting ducks not with an armed formidable force. After 60 years of their oppression (doing to arabs what Hitler did to them) they finally are getting what they desrve.
17 March 2012, 15:36
62
You think 10000 is too much. Now reset your counters, the real war started.
17 March 2012, 21:12
11
I am also a jcamerican. The truth is the Syrian government has already defeated the Free Syrian Army. The remainig opposition fighters are salafist terrorists . They use to be called Al Queda, Remenber Osama bin Laden? Same people,same belief system, same money source. Originally they were USA allies in Pakistan against the USSR ,our allies again in Syria against the Syrian government.
18 March 2012, 14:59
00
Dear John. These people will accuse you of being Iranian or M8. Their thinking is predictable and very primitive. You can tell from the votes.
17 March 2012, 15:46
63
this is the saudi initiative to continue the war in syria...LOL
18 March 2012, 08:14
21
no.
you don't think.
you don't think this or that. you simply don't think. it's too much effort for you.
17 March 2012, 15:52
10
It is no secret who indoctrinates, funds, arms and homes Al Qaida who are not called so until they execute their filthy missions outside of the Kingdom of Harlotry, the same Kingdom that is friends with the United States of Harlotry.
17 March 2012, 15:57
44
Do not mess with saudi arabia, i do not support them, but theyre strategy is too strong for Iran and Syria, they have the power of a global call for Jihad and they have the money to fund it .. they are still using it on a very small and isolated level, but the day iran-syria-hezb over extend themselves, is the day saudi arabia will extend its 1.5 out of 1.7 billion muslims around the world, into a global jihad to defend the muslim lands..Do not mess with saudi arabia !!!
17 March 2012, 16:06
64
I guess Saudi Arabia is a super power in disguise.Plus you are making the whole sunni moslems world look like Jihadists on demand.
18 March 2012, 08:21
21
the caliphate maniac hallucinate aboutthe strenght of saudi arabia
17 March 2012, 16:01
01
"a top Arab diplomat said on Saturday".. lemme guess he's a Syrian top Arab diplomat.
17 March 2012, 16:17
61
Do you really believe Saudi Arabia, Qatar or other gulf emirs, are eager to help the Syrian attain true democracy – with free election, freedom of speech, civil rights, and equality among men & women??? Do you really believe that Saudi support that? Knowing that if such a thing where to happen, it won’t be ling that their own. No, what Saudi Royal family, and gulf Emirs are doing is ensuring that Arab uprisings popping up around them are pushed away from democracy, and toward Islamic state in tune with Saudi Arabia's nature.
17 March 2012, 22:17
20
i agree with you on this one and most likely saudi as well as the americans, russians etc prefer the future leadership to be from none else than the army itself pretty much like egyptian model. The assads/alwaites hegemony over syria is coming to an end though, we are living the final chapter of the last minority rule in the mid east (lebanon, iraq before this one)
18 March 2012, 08:23
11
the filthy zionist media terrorists still hallucinate about the end of assad.
18 March 2012, 08:47
10
yes we will all be apartheid states like israel soon. Having 2nd class christian and shiite citizens everywhere.
17 March 2012, 16:18
63
They know if democracies pop out around them, it won't be too long that their own citizens will start demanding their overthrow as well. Therefore the Saudi are helping Islamist in those nations by helping them organize, fund medical – educational institutions and now even arming rebels. Saudi Arabia’s effort to tilt democratic uprising into Islamic ones, can be best seen in action in Egypt – where Saudi inspired/supported Salafist Nour party made surprising winnings in Egyptian parliament.
17 March 2012, 22:22
10
some of the details you mention are more complex than that, and you can not undermine the single most important factor in all these revolutions: the people. I am not as pessimistic as you are and i think that no one can monopolize power from 2012 on in the arab world, the era of police state is coming to an end really. I really think that if the islamists in egypt fail to deliver better economy for the egyptians then they will not fair well next time around in the elections. This is not a new iran (even iran is up for change in a matter of time). The saudis are not poised to revolt given the amount of money the state is throwing on the people and the saudi-iran conflict actualy helps both countries' regimes stay in power..ironicaly
18 March 2012, 00:52
01
Realist
Democracy with minority and women's rights respected and equal would ensure that majority rules and minorities can survive.
But that is not what is being offered by Islamist in Tunis Egypt or Libya. That is already creating a huge problem in Egypt with the Copts. And it will definitely lead to prolonged civil war in Syria if the Sunni opposition insist on wanting to impose Islamic Shariaa Law
18 March 2012, 08:25
11
the filthy zionist media terrorists try to present the current saudi dictators as a consequence of iran.
while all normal people know that they existed many decades before iranian islamic revolution
17 March 2012, 16:20
00
excellent what saoudieh is doing but they forgot since they are loaded with petrodollars to take all arab refugees palestinians and syrians both sunniis to saoudieh where they vcan cater for their needs and when syria and palestine are liberated they bring them back
17 March 2012, 16:44
00
bachar should declare syria as kingdom like saoudieh with the same way of governing like saudieh
17 March 2012, 17:36
00
Iran and the Hezz have been sending shabiha. The Russians and Iran have been sending arms. It is time to balance the game now. I am anxious to see what they sent. ASSad is going to freak out. I love it.
He has been smashing cities to the point the country will never recover with him there. Let him see what happens when the tables are turned.
17 March 2012, 17:43
35
the syrian people cannot simply go back, too much killing by the regime has happened, and if they lay down they arms they will be slaughtered by this regime.
what I see happening now is:
in a last bid, kofi anan is brokering a solution whereby syria will remain under russian influence but with regime change, in a manner to show the russians as the saviors.
this is already internationalized so do not expect the syrian people not to receive weapons while the regime is receiving weapons and assistance from iran, russia & hizbushaitan.
18 March 2012, 08:28
11
the syrian people are smart enough not to listen to your retarded zionist propaganda.
17 March 2012, 17:50
00
Rastafarian you are an idiot an a traitor. If Saydia Arabia is so interested in defending Muslims and Muslim land, they would defend the Palestinians against Israeli opression. If they were so concerned about Islam, they would not stand by while El Aqsa mosque is under Zionist occupations. The Saudi Monarchy is a hypocrite and cowards. Instead of killing other Muslims let the Saudis defend Islam against the Zionist and Neo conservative Christian threat. Don't talk about Saudia Arabia. They are traitors to the Prophet Mohammad (praise be to him). And just do you know I am not Muslim. I am a Lebanese that cares to be Lebanese. I am a Lebanese that believes in our right to self determination, instead of working like a pig for the Americans and Jews.
17 March 2012, 17:59
00
اخيرا خلينا نشوف هالطفل الإيراني (حسن صواويخ) شو بده يعمل بعد سقوط والده الغير شرعي في سوريا كفو يالسعوديه الله يرفع راسكم فوق فوق على عيال المتعه وعلى اطفال السواح الإيرانيين
17 March 2012, 18:14
43
M8 likes to say Rafik was just another man, deserving no Special Tribunal for his murder. How wrong they are. The murder of Rafik was a tectonic shift, and part of the plan by Khameni and Assad to maintain control over Lebanon. Rafik kept a harmony between political groups, but was shifting away from Syrian hegemony with his opposition to Lahoud extension and his support for UN 1559. Syria foresaw the loss of their occupation and Iran foresaw the eventual disarming of Hezbollah with Rafik's moves against Syria regarding Lahoud and 1559, so they killed him. Plain and simple.
This breach of political protocol upset the balance of sects and hence the detente between Syria/Iran and the Sunni dominated Arab states. The Arab states are fed up with Iran's growing interference, and Syria's partnership with Iran.
Everything is tied to that. The so-called Syrian-Saudi agreement required Syria to back away from Iran. When Assad refused, it led to everything else that is happening now
18 March 2012, 00:12
11
You're quite clairvoyant. It's all logic... Unfortunately, we cannot bring Rafic back....
18 March 2012, 08:30
21
the filthy zionist media terrorists have extreme type of hallucinations about clairvoyance.
it's a common knowledge that relying on such stuff is a sign of madness. but we all knew you are insane even before this.
18 March 2012, 08:29
21
the filthy zionist media terrorists is using this article to repeat their mindless propaganda about our glorious resistance killing harriri and other hallucination regarding that subject, and other unrelated hallucinations.
go get your pill. you can't even guess what is the subject.
18 March 2012, 08:52
10
Rafic is not as innocent as you like to think just because he died a tragic death. In truth he was trying to get western powers to curb HA. So what do you expect HA to do? .. Now you will be like the M14 idiots and think I am an HA lover while the truth is I am just being objective. Hariri wanted to do away with HA through western powers and HA did away with him instead. simple. fact.
17 March 2012, 18:24
31
After the failure of the S-S formula, M8 breached the Doha Accord which required them to not resign from the government (after they were given veto power). M8 resigned because they thought they could minimize the impact of the STL if they controlled the government. What happened to the "false witness" file?
In Syria, the Sunni Imams support for the revolution against Assad has received backing from higher authorities in Saudi Arabia. This is all tied to payback for the partnership between Syria and Iran, the assassinations of Rafik and others, the May 7 invasion, the failure of the S-S formula, the breach of the Doha Accord, and growing Iranian intransigence in Arab countries.
18 March 2012, 08:32
20
the filthy zionist media terrorist have one big united hallucination that is covering all sorts of events.
17 March 2012, 18:28
32
The arming of the Syrian rebels will lead to the downfall of the Assad regime. It will not happen overnight, it could takes many months or even more than a year, but it will happen eventually. The number of people willing to fight against Assad is far greater than the number of people willing to fight for him.
17 March 2012, 18:30
13
The arab states were fed up with Saddam too. The US gave him the green light to take Kuwait. The Kuwaitis ruling family paid billions to get it back. All these wars don't happen, we make them happen. No matter what the results are, as long all of you are weak, and cannot stand on your own it is fine with us.
17 March 2012, 18:45
31
how funny as a comment from JC!
no we do not make wars, but the big countries and their multinational companies do.
however Iraq has proven so far that it was nt properly calculated (it remains to be seen) it costed too much to the US and European econimies and till now I do not see them recovering from that.
the main aim of the above is to get back the oil money while weakening us. russia and china are in the above group too, as they want their piece of the pie :) even iran is striving towards having a piece of the arabian oil :) but they are a too small player to be recognized so they will be squashed.
so no one is better than the other.
18 March 2012, 08:34
20
the filthy zionist media terrorist is having geopolitical hallucination, and the most retarded part is when they say iran is after arab oil (like they don't have their own)
17 March 2012, 18:31
10
Assad refused to back away from Iran because he saw first hand what America did to its allies. Look at Sadam and Mubarak. Syria knows that it's stuck between two evils. It made the right choice, since the American and Zionist threat is a much bigger one than the Iranian threat. The Saudi dogs that are doing their zionistaster bidding will one day have their own Arab spring. We don't need anymore Arab Muslim countries doing Americas bidding.
17 March 2012, 19:23
01
so what if SA is arming the Syrian free army! Iran and Russia is arming the illegitimate government of Syria to kill its people. It's so funny how the Syrian press operates as if they think that we are so stupid to believe their non sense. Syria is a country for the Sunnis. the Sunnis are more than 80% of the population and are entitled to run the country. This is how countries are run. SA is the cradle of Sunnis and are supposed to support their fellow sunnis like Iran supporting their fellow shai in Iraq. I think with arms flowing to the free army, the regime will very soon tumble. This is how things are in this world. The Assad father was able to massacre thousands of sunnis in hama 20 years ago and escape punishment; the son is unlikely to escape. While there is still a window of escape for him I believe he should immediately grab it because if he doesn't all his family might not escape from those who will topple the Assad.
18 March 2012, 17:09
10
Honesty? There is no Free Syrian Army. They were routed and fled. There are individual groups of mercenaries who have been providied sophisticated communicationsby France, Britain and the CIA. They are taking orders from outside the country. There are training camps in Jordan and Turkey, many Libyan killers already active. Though most Syrians are Sunni they are not salafistor wahabi and would rather have a modern country where women can vote and drive and terrorists don't blow themselves up in cars next to soft targets. These terrorist killers are bad men.People who kill for money. People who support them are wrong to do so. If Assad and his army are also bad men ,at least they are responsible enough to maintain a society instead of destroying one. Syria will not be turned into a better country by these terrorists and in the end only Israel benefits. Think more homestly
17 March 2012, 20:48
10
Why do we care?
We lebanese should not meddle in Syria s affairs,whether for or against the regime.
The were fueling our wars in lebanon.
So time for us to sit back,have a few cans of beers and watch them slaughtering eachothers .
Personally? i do not wish to come to an end and at the same time i wish the lebanese keep themselves out of it.
18 March 2012, 08:36
20
...that you and your fellows from zionist information war department are describing your hallucinations every day as a part of therapy.
but is not understandable that you do it on naharnet comments section
18 March 2012, 03:27
30
Just do as Gabby has been requesting for such a lonnnnnng time to defeat his "ASSad:" anti-tank missiles, no-fly zones and a few bearded clueless amateurs. Knowing how much of a brilliant strategist he is, give it a try! How much more can you lose? You're already losing. No?
18 March 2012, 08:27
21
the filthy zionist media terrorist still hallucinate about the endless civil war in syria.
18 March 2012, 16:10
01
The fact that Saudi Arabia is a religious extremist authoritarian government has nothing to do with whether or not the Syrians should be free from the dictatorship of Assad. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Arab countries should arm the rebels because the other side has artillery and thousands of tanks and isn't afraid of shelling towns and cities for weeks regardless of civilian casualties.
