<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">
This article from the “Middle East Eye”, was provided by Paul Mueth
<div class="field-label-hidden field-type-ds field field-name-title-and-topic-hashtag" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; line-height: 30px;" class="">
Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles</h1>
<span class="topic-hashtag" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/syriawar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">#SyriaWar</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-type-ds field field-name-body-summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" class="">Ansar al-Islam Front says it has 'good number' of man-portable missiles in south Syria, in first apparent relaxation - or breach - of US ban</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-name-field-main-image field field-type-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; font-size: 0.9em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_article_page/public/main-images/rebel%20missiles%20%28screengrab%29.png" width="620" height="366" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" class=""></div>
<div class="field-type-text-long field-name-field-main-image-caption field-label-hidden field" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; font-size: 0.9em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
A member of Ansar al-Islam Front hold an SA-7 anti-aircraft missile (screegrab)</div>
<div id="node-article-news-full-group-published-by" class="group-published-by field-group-div" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-top: 15px; font-size: 13px; border-style: solid solid none; border-width: 2px 0px 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); border-right-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); border-left-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); width: 616.65625px; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="field-label-hidden field-name-ds-user-picture field-type-ds field" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/users/mee-staff" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/article_author/public/pictures/picture-129-1444237080.png" width="34" height="34" alt="MEE staff's picture" title="MEE staff's picture" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" class=""></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-name-author-job-title field-type-ds field" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/users/mee-staff" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">MEE staff</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-name-post-date field-label-hidden field-type-ds field" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Monday 21 November 2016 07:53 UTC</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-name-last-update field-label-above field-type-ds field" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; float: left; display: inline; margin: 0px;">
Last update: </div>
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px;">
Wednesday 23 November 2016 8:37 UTC</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-type-ds field field-name-social-links" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: 10px 0px !important; position: static !important; width: 100% !important; top: 10px; right: 0px;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="sharethis-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span st_url="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-manpads-rebels-war-russia-609832353" st_title="Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles" class="st_twitter_hcount" st_via="MiddleEastEye" st_username="MiddleEastEyeFR" displaytext="twitter" st_processed="yes" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left;"><span class="stButton" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; z-index: 1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><span class="stMainServices st-twitter-counter" style="display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; line-height: 16px; position: relative; box-sizing: content-box !important; background-image: url(http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/all/themes/mee/images/tw1.png) !important; width: 30px !important; height: 16px !important; background-size: 100% !important; min-height: 16px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 3px; margin-left: -1px; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/2017/Twitter_bubble_arrow.png); line-height: 16px; height: 14px; display: inline-block; background-position: 3px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><span class="stHBubble stButton_gradient" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px !important; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: -1; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">769</span></span></span></span></span></span><span st_url="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-manpads-rebels-war-russia-609832353" st_title="Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles" class="st_facebook_hcount" displaytext="facebook" st_processed="yes" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left;"><span class="stButton" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; z-index: 1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><span class="stMainServices st-facebook-counter" style="display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; line-height: 16px; position: relative; box-sizing: content-box !important; background-image: url(http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/all/themes/mee/images/fb1.png) !important; width: 30px !important; height: 16px !important; background-size: 100% !important; min-height: 16px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 3px; margin-left: -1px; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/bubble_arrow.png); line-height: 16px; height: 14px; display: inline-block; background-position: 3px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><span class="stHBubble stButton_gradient" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px !important; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: -1; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">391</span></span></span></span></span></span><span st_url="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-manpads-rebels-war-russia-609832353" st_title="Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles" class="st_googleplus_hcount" displaytext="googleplus" st_processed="yes" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left;"><span class="stButton" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; z-index: 1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><span class="stButton_gradient" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px !important; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="chicklets googleplus" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-indent: -9999px; background-image: url(http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/all/themes/mee/images/g1.png) !important; width: 30px !important; height: 30px !important; background-size: 100% !important; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; display: inline-block; line-height: 16px; background-position: 0px 0px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important;">googleplus</span></span><span class="stArrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 3px; margin-left: -1px; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/bubble_arrow.png); line-height: 16px; height: 14px; display: inline-block; background-position: 3px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><span class="stHBubble stButton_gradient" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px !important; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: -1; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">0</span></span></span></span></span></span><span st_url="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-manpads-rebels-war-russia-609832353" st_title="Syria war: Rebel group supplied with anti-air missiles" class="st_sharethis_hcount" displaytext="sharethis" st_processed="yes" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left;"><span class="stButton" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; z-index: 1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><span class="stMainServices st-sharethis-counter" style="display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; line-height: 16px; position: relative; box-sizing: content-box !important; background-image: url(http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/all/themes/mee/images/st1.png) !important; width: 30px !important; height: 16px !important; background-size: 100% !important; min-height: 16px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important;"> </span><span class="stArrow" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 3px; margin-left: -1px; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/bubble_arrow.png); line-height: 16px; height: 14px; display: inline-block; background-position: 3px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><span class="stHBubble stButton_gradient" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px !important; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; position: relative; z-index: -1; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">1220</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-article-news-full-group-terms-comment-count" class="field-group-div group-terms-comment-count" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; min-height: 55px; position: relative; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 13px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); border-left-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); width: 616.65625px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none !important; padding-top: 0px !important;">
<div class="field-name-field-topics field-type-entityreference field-label-inline inline field" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px;">
Topics: </div>
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<div class="textformatter-list" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/syriawar" class="taxonomy-term-3 taxonomy-term entityreference" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;">SyriaWar</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="inline field-name-field-tags field-label-inline field field-type-taxonomy-term-reference" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="field-label" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px;">
Tags: </div>
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<div class="textformatter-list" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/syria" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Syria</a>, <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/daraa" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Daraa</a>, <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/russia" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">russia</a>, <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/bashar-al-assad" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Bashar
al-Assad</a>, <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/manpads" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Manpads</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-name-comment-count field-type-ds field" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; background-image: url(http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/all/themes/mee/images/comment-count.png); float: right; padding: 2px 0px 4px 30px; line-height: 20px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 15px; text-align: right; background-position: 0px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">
<div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<div class="field-item even" property="sioc:num_replies" datatype="xsd:integer" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">
<a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-manpads-rebels-war-russia-609832353#block-disqus-disqus-comments" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Show comments</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field-label-hidden field-name-body field field-type-text-with-summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 2px 0px; border-style: solid; padding: 15px 0px; clear: both; border-color: rgb(0, 118, 175); margin: 0px; width: 616.65625px; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">A Syrian rebel group has paraded a cache of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, the first evidence of the weapons being supplied to opposition forces after an expected relaxing of US restrictions.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">Members of the Ansar al-Islam Front were shown in a video posted on 20 November testing SA-7 Strela-2 missiles, although the weapons are not shown being fired.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The group said they had a "good number" of the weapons, which were being deployed among Ansar and Free Syrian Army forces to counter government aircraft in Daraa and Quneitra, to the south of
the country.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2n3KJkeM-8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">
</iframe>
</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The first fighter in the video can be heard saying: "We, in Ansar al-Islam Front, have distributed several points of air defence to counter any attempt by the Syrian warplanes or helicopters
which bombs points in Quneitra province. We have good number of these missiles."</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">A second fighter, named as "Abu Bilal" in the video, says: "We, in Ansar al-Islam Front and factions of the FSA, are distributing equipment and soldiers toward Tal al-Hara, Mashara, Sandaniya
and Jabata. And in the coming days you will hear good news from Quneitra and its surroundings.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">"There are a lot of preparations for ambushes and units deployed on the front lines. There are units of air defence, infantry elements and other several sets of our factions and the factions
of the FSA in Quneitra and its surroundings."</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The supply of the missiles breaches a standing order from the US to prohibit their distribution in Syria. The US has feared the weapons could fall into the hands of groups such as the Islamic
State or the Nusra Front and be used against American forces, their allies and civilian aviation.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">However, a high-level rebel source told Middle East Eye in late September that the US was to <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/aleppo-must-not-fall-us-preparing-flood-city-anti-air-missiles-154690394" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">clear
the way</a> for allied nations to begin supplying the weapons, as Russian and Syrian forces increased their attacks on rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">"The US confirmed the green light to begin sending them to rebels through supply routes still open through Jordan and Turkey," the source told MEE at the time. "Rebels are being told only to
target Syrian helicopters, not Russian - but it's not clear they will abide by this."</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The source told Middle East Eye that the US had confirmed it would allow Qatar and Saudi Arabia to begin shipments.</p>
<iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" data-tweet-id="800497495977693184" title="Twitter Tweet" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: static; visibility: visible; display: block; width: 550px; height: 506.75px; padding: 0px; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
</iframe>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The Reuters news agency at the same time quoted anonymous US officials as saying the assault on Aleppo had "heightened" the possibility of the Obama administration lifting the ban.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">However, there is no evidence of the missiles reaching Aleppo, where supply routes have been cut by a siege by Syrian government forces.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The Ansar al-Islam Front is reportedly among dozens of rebel groups that have in the past been supplied with <a href="https://notgeorgesabra.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/the-moderate-rebels-a-complete-and-growing-list-of-vetted-groups/" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">US-made BGM-71</a> anti-tank
missiles, with US approval and through Saudi channels. </p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">It was recently named by the Brookings Institute as <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iwr_20161123_free_syrian_army.pdf" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">one
of 76 FSA units</a> that had been "vetted" by the CIA and supplied through military operations command centres in Jordan and/or Turkey.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" class="">The <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/sa-7.htm" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(103, 120, 185); text-decoration: none;" class="">SA-7</a> was designed
by the Soviets in the 1960s and was among the first generation of man-portable air defence weapons, known by the acronym "Manpads", although there have been several upgraded variants since.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>