The United States has picked up where it left off more than a month ago and started shipping nonlethal aid to Syria in hopes that al Qaeda won’t seize it and keep it from reaching its intended rebel fighting recipients.
The U.S. halted aid six weeks ago after militants linked to the terror group al Qaeda seized warehouses of the supplies that were located near the Turkish border, the Associated Press reported. Britain also suspended shipments of its aid.
The restarted aid included communications equipment and medical supplies, U.S. officials said.
But the aid from the U.S. isn’t taking a direct route to the rebel fighters in Syria, one official told AP. Rather, it’s going a circuitous path through Turkey, using Free Syrian Army Supreme Military Council members to help with the transfer, according to AP.
The extra caution is necessary to ensure the supplies aren’t again confiscated, even though items that were taken in December have reportedly been returned, AP reported.
In coming weeks, the U.S. could resume giving direct aid to armed Syrian rebel forces, if no incidents occur with the indirect transference, officials said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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