Antakya, Turkey // Syrian rebels say they have been told access to weapons from Arabian Gulf states will be conditional on their pledging allegiance to the Free Syrian Army and its civilian overseers in the Syrian National Coalition.
The conditions are part of an effort to better organise the revolt against Bashar Al Assad and rein in Islamist militants.
The Free Syrian Army commander Gen Selim Idriss visited Gulf states last week to ask if the flow of weapons to the rebels could be increased.
The visits followed a decision by the Arab League last month authorising munitions supplies and amid a quickening diplomatic tempo as regional leaders head for Washington in coming weeks for talks on Syria,
Gen Idriss was told that arms supplies would increase only if a clearer chain of command and better organisation were established among the rebels.
Those conditions appear to have been set to make those fighting Mr Al Assad's powerful conventional army more effective, and, perhaps crucially, to bolster the FSA high command and the Syrian National Coalition.
Although the coalition has been accepted by Arab states and some international supporters of the uprising as the legitimate representatives of Syria, both it and the FSA have struggled to exert influence on the ground, where disparate and largely autonomous armed groups hold sway.
Only armed groups pledging allegiance to the FSA and the coalition would be considered candidates for any government supplied weapons from the Arabian Gulf, Gen Idriss was told.
There has been no public comment on the talks from any Gulf countries. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been supplying elements of the opposition with arms for months via Turkey but not in sufficient volumes to act as an equaliser between rebels and the regime.
"The arms will not be given out unless the group accepts it is part of the FSA and National Coalition; they must accept that leadership and agree to follow orders when they are given by the FSA high command," a leading opposition figure said after a discussion on the outcome of Gen Idriss's visits. He did not say which Gulf states Gen Idriss had been to.
"Until today the FSA command has very little connection or influence to the fighters on the ground, there is no real working leadership structure or chain of command," the opposition member said.
"It seems a real effort might now be starting to correct that and integrate the FSA command with the fighters on the ground and with the civilian leaders in the National Coalition."
Lightly armed rebels have long sought powerful weapons, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, to fight regime forces that have used tanks, fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery and ballistic missiles against rebel and civilian targets.
Moaz Al Khatib, the president of the Syrian National Coalition, Ghassan Hitto, the coalition's prime minister, and Gen Idriss have all been invited to meetings in London this week with Britain and France.
The US has announced a series of meetings focused on Syria between now and mid-May; with the UN chief, Ban Ki-moon followed by the leaders of Qatar, Turkey and Jordan, and on April 16 with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
In Europe both Downing Street and the Elysée Palace have been cautious advocates of getting more weapons and ammunition to the rebels, provided they go to secular, moderate factions and do not fall into the hands of powerful Islamist brigades, including Jabhat Al Nusra - classified a wing of Al Qaeda by the US and one of the most influential and effective units ranged against Mr Al Assad's forces.
Reports from Jordan indicate the US, in conjunction with its regional allies, has already begun to train and equip small units of secular rebels, as a counterbalance to a growing Islamist trend among opposition fighters.
The White House, however, has rejected calls from inside the US departments of defence, state and the CIA to more fully back the rebels, largely borne of fears they will effectively be supplying Al Qaeda.
If the opposition accounts of Gen Idriss's meetings in the Gulf are accurate, however, it suggests Arab states, Europe and perhaps the US might be finding some common ground to increase support to the uprising.
There have been media reports, based largely on diplomatic sources, that weapons supplies to rebels have been on the rise, ahead of a widely trailed offensive on Damascus, slated to begin in the summer.
There is, however, much debate whether getting more weapons to rebels will hasten an end to a war that has claimed more than 70,000 lives, or simply increase the bloodletting.
As part of the effort to create a "proper" rebel army, opposition figures say the new minister of defence in the interim government - whose formation is currently being thrashed out, hindered by internal opposition politicking - will be a civilian.
That, they say, will enshrine the principle of civilian control over rebel units.
Serious stumbling blocks remain to improving the unity of rebel groups - a reflection of profound divisions within the opposition.
All agree on the need to topple the Assad dynasty that has ruled Syria since the 1970s, but beyond that the Syrian National Coalition is itself deeply divided, while inside Syria rebel commanders are unlikely to want to surrender their power to a higher authority.
psands@thenational.ae
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Suarez 27', Vidal 32', Dembele 35', Messi 78')
Sevilla 0
Red cards: Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
How to avoid crypto fraud
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SANCTIONED
- Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
- Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB.
- Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.
- Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
- Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
The%20Letter%20Writer
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21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Planes grounded by coronavirus
British Airways: Cancels all direct flights to and from mainland China
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific: Cutting capacity to/from mainland China by 50 per cent from Jan. 30
Chicago-based United Airlines: Reducing flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
Ai Seoul: Suspended all flights to China
Finnair: Suspending flights to Nanjing and Beijing Daxing until the end of March
Indonesia's Lion Air: Suspending all flights to China from February
South Korea's Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air and Jin Air: Suspend all flights
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.