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Syrian Rebels Get Missiles
(Wall Street Journal) Nour Malas - Some Syrian rebel factions have obtained advanced portable antiaircraft weapons, a development that could alter the Syrian war's trajectory and fan U.S. concerns that such weapons could end up in the hands of anti-Western Islamist militias. Video footage on the Internet this week appears to show rebels in Aleppo using heat-seeking, shoulder-fired missiles. The weapons have been smuggled into Syria over the past two months through Turkey and Lebanon, according to Syrian rebels and those who supply them arms. "Northern Syria is awash with advanced antitank and antiaircraft weapons. The situation has changed very quickly," said a Syrian involved in weapons procurement. Most of the shoulder-fired missiles have come from Libya, smuggled into the country through the Turkish border, several rebel coordinators said. Others have been supplied by militant Palestinian factions now supporting the Syrian uprising.