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McCain Calls on US to Provide Stinger Missiles to Syrian Rebels

© AP Photo / Kevin HagenSen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham speaks defending McCain's military record during a town hall meeting at the 3 West Club to launch Graham's “No Nukes for Iran” tour Monday, July 20, 2015, in New York
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham speaks defending McCain's military record during a town hall meeting at the 3 West Club to launch Graham's “No Nukes for Iran” tour Monday, July 20, 2015, in New York - Sputnik International
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The United States should provide the so-called Syrian moderate opposition with Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles to defend themselves, US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain told reporters on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Media reported earlier in October that Syrian rebels asked Washington for Stinger missiles to use them against Russia’s military jets.

“Absolutely… Absolutely I would,” McCain said when asked whether he would support the delivery of Stinger missiles to the opposition in Syria.

“We certainly did that in Afghanistan. After the Russians invaded Afghanistan, we provided them with surface-to-air capability. It’d be nice to give people that we train and equip and send them to fight the ability to defend themselves. That’s one of the fundamental principles of warfare as I understand it,” McCain said.

A group of Syrian rebels supported by US politicians for their “moderate” position, and who received US military equipment, has disbanded after heavy losses. - Sputnik International
Throwing Bullets at the Problem: US Drops Arms to Unvetted Syrian Rebels
Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, the United States and some of its allies have supported the so-called moderate Syrian opposition, urging the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

On October 9, Washington abandoned its $500-million campaign to train the so-called moderate opposition in Syria but decided instead to arm vetted Syrian opposition leaders.

Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25, Su-24M and Su-34 attack aircraft, with the support of Su-30 jets, launched precision airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

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