NO MORE COVERT CIA PROGRAMME

US plan to equip, train Syrian rebels put on hold

THE Trump administration has decided to halt the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) covert programme to equip and train rebel groups fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, two United States officials said, a move sought by Assad ally, Russia.

The decision, an official said, was to improve relations with Russia, which, along with Iranian-supported groups, had succeeded in preserving Assad’s government in the six-year civil war.

The CIA programme began in 2013 as part of efforts by the Obama administration to overthrow Assad, but produced little success, said officials. The Washington Post was first to report the programme’s suspension on Wednesday.

The decision was made with National Security adviser H.R. McMaster and CIA director Mike Pompeo after they consulted with lower ranking officials and before Trump’s July 7 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Germany. It was not part of US-Russian negotiations on a ceasefire in southwestern Syria, they said.

An official said the US was not making a major concession, given Assad’s grip on power, although not on all of Syria, “but it’s a signal to Putin that the administration wants to improve ties to Russia”.

Trump is under intense scrutiny by Congress and a special counsel that is investigating Russian interference in the presidential election last year and whether Trump’s campaign had ties to the activity.

Russia denied US intelligence agencies’ allegations of Moscow meddling, and Trump denied collusion between his campaign and Russians.

A downside of the CIA programme was that some armed and trained rebels defected to the Islamic State and other groups, and some members of the previous administration favoured abandoning the programme.

Before assuming office in January, Trump suggested he end support for Free Syrian Army groups and give priority to the fight against IS.

A separate effort by the US military to train, arm and support other Syrian rebel groups with airstrikes and other actions would continue, officials said.

However, besides the airstrikes after the Syrian military launched a chemical weapons attack, the Trump administration had not increased military support from the limits set by the Obama administration. Reuters