Fiscal Times: Here’s the U.S. Missile That’s Altering the Battlefield in Syria
A U.S.-manufactured antitank missile has taken on new prominence in Syria’s years-long civil war.
While the Obama administration has officially maintained it won’t provide heavy weapons like the Raytheon-produced BGM-71 TOW missile to rebels battling the Assad regime, a CIA-led effort has supplied the system to opposition groups for more than a year now.
The weapon has had such a devastating impact on the Assad regime’s ground forces that Russia has allegedly focused its airstrikes in the country on areas where rebels have utilized it in order to regain territory.
Saudi Arabia, which has purchased thousands of the missiles over the years, has reportedly delivered 500 of them to rebel groups to bolster their campaign against Damascus.
Previous Post: Did Russia Intervene In Syria Because The U.S. Was Supplying TOW Missiles?
Update #1: Rebels say US-made missiles turning tide against regime -- AFP
Update #2: Saudi Arabia just replenished Syrian rebels with one of the most effective weapons against the Assad regime -- Business Insider
WNU Editor: Like the Stinger missile system during the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan, the TOW missile is having an impact on the Syrian battlefield. The U.S. is also now making it clear that they have a red line when it comes to Russia targeting CIA backed Syrian rebels, and they will back these rebels with sophisticated weapons .... US draws a line on protecting CIA-backed rebels in Syria (AP).