Posted on 04/17/2013 9:50:08 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Iran has reportedly been training pro-government Syrian militia groups at a secret base inside Iranian borders. It is allegedly an “open secret” within the Syrian government that the Iranians are helping train at least 50,000 militiamen, although both governments have denied the allegations. A member of one of the pro-Assad militias said of the training that “it’s the same course Hezbollah operatives normally do…the course teaches you the important elements of guerrilla warfare, like several different ways to carry a rifle and shoot, and the best methods to prepare against surprise attacks.” Irregular militia groups have recently played a prominent role in the Syrian conflict; they have branded themselves the “National Defense Army” and operate throughout the country with impunity.
Spokesmen for the Syrian opposition have indicated that about 3,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) officers are being trained to use surface-to-air missiles and artillery by U.S. and Jordanian instructors at a military base in Jordan. An FSA officer told reporters “The Free Syrian Army will be expected and ready to control and administer Syria’s liberated zones…We have been told not to count on international forces or even a no-fly zone.” However, the Obama administration has expressed concerns that some of the 20,000 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) in Syria may have come from Muammar Gaddafi’s arsenals in Libya. Even though the U.S. supports the concept of the FSA establishing a buffer zone along Syria’s southern border, it is unsettled about the possibility of the MANPADS being used against Israel.
Strange days ... the FSA alliance puts the US on the side of some dark forces. I suppose they think it worth it, because of the conflict with Iran.
Iranians are helping train at least 50,000 militiamen... “it’s the same course Hezbollah operatives normally do…the course teaches you the important elements of guerrilla warfare, like several different ways to carry a rifle and shoot, and the best methods to prepare against surprise attacks.” ...have branded themselves the “National Defense Army” and operate throughout the country with impunity. Spokesmen for the Syrian opposition have indicated that about 3,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) officers are being trained to use surface-to-air missiles and artillery by U.S. and Jordanian instructors at a military base in Jordan.
Fox says we have sent 200 troops to Jordan.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.