National Coalition claims Syrian opposition needs American weapons to protect themselves

Syrian rebels need American weapons without delay in order to protect themselves and peaceful civilians from Bashar al-Assad’s regime, chairman of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Ahmad Jarba said. After the talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Jarba said: “The U.S. commitment to providing military aid to the Supreme Military Council is vital. It is necessary to do this as soon as possible to allow us to protect themselves and peaceful civilians. If we’re deprived of the right to self-defence, the regime can survive. Thousands of people will be executed and repressions will continue endlessly.” On Tuesday, July 23, the U.S. State Department confirmed that the White House had get accord from the Congress to supply arms to the Syrian opposition. Washington declines to specify the exact date of supplies, which will include small arms and ammunition. The head of the coalition, which has not confirmed its participation in the Geneva-2 conference on Syria, urged the United States to insist on the political settlement of the Syrian conflict. He also accused the Syrian authorities of indiscriminate weapons, including toxic agents and cluster bombs. The National Coalition’s delegation will take part in an informal meeting with the U.N. Security Council members. Then it intends t meet journalists. The opposition’s plans to hold the press conference at the U.N. headquarters were condemned by several countries.