Congress authorizes Trump to arm Syrian rebels with anti-aircraft missiles
The House passed a defense bill that conditionally allows the provision of MANPADs to anti-Syrian regime forces.
![MIDEAST-CRISIS-SYRIA-HASAKA Syria Democratic Forces and Free Syrian Army fighters gesture on the back of pick-up trucks in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria February 19, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTX27SJG](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2016/12/RTX27SJG.jpg/RTX27SJG.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=GpZZPw-n)
The House voted for the first time today to explicitly authorize the incoming Donald Trump administration to arm vetted Syrian rebels with anti-aircraft missiles.
While the language in the annual defense bill also creates restrictions on the provision of the controversial weapons, it represents a win for Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., a fervent advocate of helping the rebels resist President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. The Senate is expected to pass the bill next week.
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