Official Says CIA-Funded Weapons Have Begun to Reach Syrian Rebels; Rebels Deny Receipt - Video

CIA-funded weapons have begun flowing to Syrian rebels, a U.S. official told CNN. But opposition groups say they have yet to receive any.
The official confirmed details first reported by the Washington Post but would not speak publicly.
“That is something we are not going to dispute, but we are not going to publicly speak to it,” the official said.
The weapons are not American-made, but are funded and organized by the CIA. They started to reach rebels about two weeks ago, the official said.
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The artillery was described as light weapons, some anti-tank weapons and ammunition.
The Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army deny they have received weapons from the United States.
“We have some promises from the U.S. administration of shipment of weapons in a short period of time, but until now we have not received any,” said Free Syrian Army Political and Media Coordinator Louay al-Mokdad.
“We have logistical help, but we didn’t get weapons until now. We hope that in the next short period of time we will start receiving weapons, because we have promises from EU countries and the U.S. that they will help us and support us.”
The supply is in addition to the non-lethal aid that the United States has been providing the rebels since April, when the Obama administration first altered the nature of the aid to include items such as body armor, night vision goggles and other military equipment.
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The official insisted the effort has been in the works for some time, and did not start as an effort to appease those calling for more rebel aid during the new diplomatic initiative with Russia.