U.S. Relies Heavily on Saudi Money to Support Syrian Rebels | The New York Times

“Although the Saudis have been public about their help arming rebel groups in Syria, the extent of their partnership with the C.I.A.’s covert action campaign and their direct financial support had not been disclosed. Details were pieced together in interviews with a half-dozen current and former American officials and sources from several Persian Gulf countries. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the program. From the moment the C.I.A. operation was started, Saudi money supported it.” Full story here.

Also see: Proxy wars have always been complex, but the Syrian conflict has moved into a world of its own | Citizens’ Press

“The obvious goal of the Gulf-Arab monarchies is to overthrow the dictatorial, but republican, government of Syria … the anti-Syrian government forces have transformed into proxies for various Gulf-Arab monarchies seeking to displace republican Arab states.”