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Syrian Rebels Get Arms with Gulf Money, U.S. Coordination
(Washington Post) Karen DeYoung and Liz Sly - Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks including antitank weaponry, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the U.S., according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. U.S. contacts with the rebel military and information-sharing with Gulf nations mark a shift in Obama administration policy as hopes dim for a political solution. Many officials now consider an expanding military confrontation in Syria to be inevitable. The flow of weapons significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month. Syria's Muslim Brotherhood said it has opened its own supply channel to the rebels, using resources from wealthy private individuals and money from Gulf states. "Large shipments have got through," said one opposition figure. "Some areas are loaded with weapons."