Guardian: KSA Allocates Millions to Train New Rebels for Syria War

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia is preparing to spend millions of dollars to arm and train thousands of Syrian fighters in a new national rebel force in a new attempt to topple Bashar al-Assad, according to a report published by the Guardian.

The report said that "Syrian, Arab and western sources say the intensifying Saudi effort is focused on Jaysh al-Islam (the Army of Islam or JAI), created in late September by a union of 43 Syrian groups. It is being billed as a significant new player on the fragmented rebel scene."
The force excludes al-Qaida affiliates such as the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra, but embraces more non-jihadi Islamist and Salafi units.
According to one unconfirmed report the JAI will be trained with Pakistani help, and estimates of its likely strength range from 5,000 to more than 50,000.
The Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, is also pressing the US to drop its objections to supplying anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles to the JAI. Jordan is being urged to allow its territory to be used as a supply route into neighboring Syria.

In return, diplomats say, Riyadh is encouraging the JAI to accept the authority of the US and western-backed Supreme Military Council, led by Salim Idriss, and the Syrian Opposition Coalition.

Moreover, a report by the Foreign Policy said Saudi Arabia has teamed up with Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and France in adopting the new policy to bolster militants in Syria, the Foreign Policy magazine reported.

It noted that Pakistani instructors are also involved in the new project with sources saying that Pakistan could be given the responsibility for training two militant brigades, with about 5,000-10,000 militants.

According to the report, the main goal of the project is to unite the mainstream armed opposition in Syria, many of whom are extremist forces, under the banner of a unified army.

The decision came after signs of rift in relations between Washington and Riyadh became evident. Washington has recently abandoned plans to launch a military strike against Syria.

The JAI is led by Zahran Alloush, a Salafi and formerly head of Liwa al-Islam, one of the most extremist rebel fighting forces in the Damascus area.
Alloush recently held talks with Bandar along with Saudi businessmen who are financing individual rebel brigades under the JAI's banner.

Saudi assertiveness has grown along with unhappiness over US policy towards Syria and Iran, the kingdom's regional rival. Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi intelligence chief, described Obama's approach to Syria as "lamentable".
"The Saudi leadership should be careful what it creates in Syria," Yezid Sayegh of the Carnegie Foundation warned in a recent commentary.

Thomas Pierret of Edinburgh University, commenting on the Saudis said "They have a lot of money but very poor intelligence and human resources and organizational skills. They are very dependent on the western military. They are too used to having relationships with clients and using personal networks."

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