Defense

U.S. personnel headed to Syria

The Associated Press is reporting, the U.S. is ramping up its presence at Syria's Turkish border, sending more spies and diplomats to help advise the rebel forc...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

September 7, 2012 10:44 am

< a min read

The Associated Press is reporting, the U.S. is ramping up its presence at Syria’s Turkish border, sending more spies and diplomats to help advise the rebel forces in their mismatched fight against the better armed Syrian regime, and to watch for possible al-Qaida infiltration of rebel ranks. The AP says U.S. officials briefed on the plan said the modest surge in U.S. personnel in the past few weeks – estimated at fewer than a dozen people – has helped improve rebels’ political organizing skills as well as their military organization. The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.