By Michael Johnson
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pledged $60 million in “non-lethal” aid to Syrian political opposition groups during a Friends of Syria meeting in Rome on Thursday. The assistance would go to liberated Syrian communities to “fulfil administrative functions” and provide basic services. The U.S. would also give food and medical aid to rebel fighters.
“The stakes are really high, and we can’t risk letting this country — in the heart of the Middle East — be destroyed by vicious autocrats or hijacked by the extremists” said Kerry. Indeed, the U.S. has previously provided $384 million in humanitarian assistance, and gave $54 million to the Syrian National Council (SNC