London, May 3 (ANI): US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that the US is reconsidering its opposition to supplying weapons to rebel forces in the strife-torn Syria.
Hagel's statement is a first time for a senior US official openly saying about no longer ruling out arming rebel forces following President Barack Obama's rejection of a similar proposal last year, the BCC reports.
As heavy fighting erupted in Syria between government forces and rebels near a village, Hagel insisted that although the US was reconsidering its opposition to providing weapons to rebels, no decision had been made yet, adding that a decision will be taken only after considering every successful objective with the international community.
However, British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said that the UK had so far been unable to provide weapons because of an European Union (EU) ban on arming the rebels, although he added that they will look at the situation after the expiration of the EU ban.
According to the report, many US officials increasingly feel that arming the rebels is now the least worst option, with no appetite for direct military intervention, adding that US allies such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already providing weapons to various groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
The pressure to act has intensified in recent days after emerging evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons such as the nerve gas sarin, the report added. (ANI)
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