U.K. to resume non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels

The United Kingdom will resume non-lethal aid to the rebels in Syria, Foreign Secretary William Hague announced in Parliament on May 1.

The gift — one million pounds worth of laptops with satellite internet connection, mobile telephones and push-to-talk radios; commercially available vehicles, such as pick-up trucks; fuel; portable generators less than 3MW in power; logistics supplies such as clothing, rations and tents; and individual medical kits —communications equipment, vehicles, generators and medical kits, will be delivered to the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) “as soon as is practical” Mr. Hague said.

The cost will be met from the government’s Conflict Pool Fund.

The U.K. government had suspended non-lethal aid to the Free Syrian Army in December last year, following fighting at Bab al-Hawa when the FSA, considered a moderate rebel force, lost ground to the Islamic Front, a Islamist group.

“This resumption of delivery clearly demonstrates our continued and longstanding support for the National Coalition and the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, who represent the majority of Syrians who support a political settlement and a democratic, pluralist future for their country,” Mr. Hague said.

The U.K. has been concerned over the growing numbers of young British Muslim men who are leaving the country to fight with the rebels in Syria. Some of them have been killed in the fighting.

The equipment is the U.K.’s second “gift” to the Supreme Military Council. The first was in August last year, when it sent equipment to protect from chemical weapons attacks.