US non-lethal aid reaches Syrian rebels after months of delay

The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has reportedly started delivering weapons to Syrian rebels after months of delay, the officials said.

According to the Washington Post, the arms shipments, including light weapons and other ammunitions, separate deliveries of vehicles, advanced combat medical kits, communications equipments and other non-lethal gear began streaming into the country over the past two weeks.

The non-lethal aid is aimed at supporting rebel fighters who are under the command of General Salim Idriss of the Supreme Military Council, a faction of the disjointed armed opposition, the report added.

The Obama administration had earlier promised more aid to rebels of Syria against President Bashar al-Assad.

However, the logistical challenges involved in delivering equipment in a war zone and fear of weapons landing in the hands of jihadists delayed the process.

The flow of material marks a major escalation of the U.S. role in Syria's civil war.

The move comes amid heightened tensions over a possible missile strike to be ordered by President Barack Obama to punish Assad's regime for alleged use of chemical weapons in a deadly attack near Damascus last month.

The U.S. officials hope that the weapons and gear will boost the prowess of rebel fighters in a conflict that started about two-and-a-half-years ago.