Jordanian officials 'stole CIA weapons destined for Syrian rebels'

Weapons sent to Syrian rebels by Saudi Arabia and the CIA were stolen and sold on the black market by Jordanian intelligence officials, new reports claim.

MENA

2 min read

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27 June, 2016

Saudi Arabia and the CIA trained and supplied Syrian rebels with weapons [AFP]

Millions of dollars worth of CIA weapons sent to Syrian rebels have been stolen by Jordanian intelligence officials and sold on the black market, The New York Times and Al Jazeera reported.

The military equipment - supplied from both the CIA and Saudi Arabia - entered into Jordan as part of a secret program to train and arm the rebels in their fight against Bashar al-Assad.

Stolen weapons included Kalashnikov assault rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades the reports said, adding that the black market is newly awash with arms.

The fate of the stolen goods is unknown but investigators believe many weapons are likely to have ended up shipped to other countries or in the hands of rural Jordanian tribes and criminals.

Unnamed American and Jordanian officials confirmed some of the stolen weapons were used in a November shooting that targeted a police training facility in the Jordanian capital, according to reports by the Times and Al Jazeera.

Two American contractors, two Jordanians and one South African were gunned down in the attack.

The FBI and CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment however reports suggest the intelligence service has been investigating the case for months.

Thousands of Syrian rebels have been receiving training by Arab intelligence services - mainly Saudi Arabia - as well as CIA operatives since 2013.

The secret programme - code named Timber Sycamore - was based in Jordan due to its close proximity to Syria.