Syria
(asked on 17th November 2014) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to which rebel groups in Syria they have offered financial or military assistance; and by which groups such assistance has been accepted.
This question was answered on 27th November 2014
The UK supports a range of moderates in Syria who oppose both the Assad regime and extremism. We do not provide support to extremist groups, and the need to prevent diversion to these groups is built into our programmes. In August 2013 we gave the Supreme Military Council (SMC) of the Free Syrian Army escape hoods, detector paper and nerve-agent pre-treatment tablets to protect them from chemical weapons attack. This financial year the UK will be providing £1 million of non-lethal equipment to the moderate armed opposition. The exact equipment will depend on the requirements of the recipients, but could include commercially available communications equipment, commercially available vehicles, fuel, portable generators and logistics supplies such as clothing, rations and tents; and individual medical kits. The UK Government also expects to make a significant contribution to the recently announced US-led programme to train and equip the Syrian moderate armed opposition. Details of how that contribution will be delivered are currently being scoped. We also provide support to the political umbrella group the National Coalition. This includes advisory and strategic communications support. The UK does not supply weapons to anybody in Syria.
The UK supports a range of moderates in Syria who oppose both the Assad regime and extremism. We do not provide support to extremist groups, and the need to prevent diversion to these groups is built into our programmes. In August 2013 we gave the Supreme Military Council (SMC) of the Free Syrian Army escape hoods, detector paper and nerve-agent pre-treatment tablets to protect them from chemical weapons attack. This financial year the UK will be providing £1 million of non-lethal equipment to the moderate armed opposition. The exact equipment will depend on the requirements of the recipients, but could include commercially available communications equipment, commercially available vehicles, fuel, portable generators and logistics supplies such as clothing, rations and tents; and individual medical kits. The UK Government also expects to make a significant contribution to the recently announced US-led programme to train and equip the Syrian moderate armed opposition. Details of how that contribution will be delivered are currently being scoped. We also provide support to the political umbrella group the National Coalition. This includes advisory and strategic communications support. The UK does not supply weapons to anybody in Syria.