‘Merchant of Death’ sentenced to 25 years by US judge

Arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the “merchant of death”, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail by a US judge.

During the sentencing, the ex-Soviet officer shouted “It’s a lie” as the prosecution said he had agreed to sell weapons to kill Americans. (more…)

Massive stockpile of Russian arms have fueled Syrian assault

After a winter of bloodshed in which President Bashar al-Assad deployed tanks and rockets to pulverise his own cities, figures released yesterday showed that Damascus splashed out millions of dollars both before and during the anti-government uprising in an effort to develop an enormous arsenal of largely Russian-made weapons.

Arms deliveries skyrocketed by nearly 600 per cent between 2007 and 2011 compared with the preceding five-year period. As the Syrian people laboured under a faltering economy and Baathist repression, Damascus spent hundreds of millions of dollars on missile systems, air defence facilities and anti-ship rockets. (more…)

Senior U.S. senator calls for arming Syria rebels

A senior Republican U.S. senator on Sunday called for arming Syria’s rebels through the Arab League and suggested the imposition of “no drive” and “no fly” zones against Syrian military forces targeting the opposition. (more…)

Lebanon Army arrests armed Syrians along border

New TV reported on Sunday that the Lebanese army arrested earlier in the day 39 “armed Syrians” along the border in the Qaa area (more…)

“Friends of Syria” to demand immediate access for aid

Western and Arab nations will demand on Friday that Syria allow aid to be delivered to desperate civilians in the absence of any international resolve to intervene to end a crackdown on a near year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. (more…)

Syrian opposition wants arms supplies for rebels

Syria’s opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) appealed to the “Friends of Syria” on Friday to arm the rebel Free Syrian Army and to support all forms of popular resistance against President Bashar al-Assad.

“If the regime fails to accept the terms of the political initiative outlined by the Arab League and end violence against citizens, (more…)

Russian FM: “We Are not Friends or Allies of Assad.”

MUNICH — With the United States and the European Union imposing unprecedented economic sanctions against Iran, and the lingering threat of an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, it was expected that Iran would be a big issue here at the annual Munich Security Conference that opened on Friday. (more…)

Russian Ship Carrying Arms Reached Syria, report

A Russian ship, allegedly carrying tons of weapons, made a dash for Syria after Cypriot officials allowed it to leave their waters, Turkish officials said Thursday.

The ship had made an unscheduled stop in Cyprus Tuesday, technically violating an EU embargo on arms shipments to Syria, which has killed thousands in a crackdown on dissent. (more…)

Turkey seizes 5 Iranian trucks with ‘military materials’ on way to Syria

Istanbul – Turkish customs officials seized a fifth Iranian truck on Wednesday. This development comes after four other trucks were seized on Tuesday on suspicion of carrying arms to Syria, state news agency Anatolian reported. (more…)

Hezbollah, Amal, Baath members are arming Syrian rebels, report

Lebanese security sources have confirmed that “dozens of members of Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movement are involved in smuggling arms across the Syrian border to the Syrian rebels.” These elements buy the weapons in Lebanon and Libya and smuggle them to the “Free Syrian Army”, (more…)