The White House on Thursday confirmed reports that the United States has increased its nonlethal assistance to Syrian rebels in recent weeks to try to accelerate the toppling of Syrian President Bashir Assad.
The U.S. already had provided more than $117 million in nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition and soon will be providing another $10 million in food rations and medical kits to help feed the hungry and tend to the sick and wounded.
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President Obama also has directed his national security team to identify additional ways the U.S. can increase that assistance, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
“We are on an upward trajectory with our assistance — both humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and direct assistance to the Syrian opposition,” Mr. Carney told reporters.
