Britain will escalate its "non lethal" support for Syria's rebels, providing body armour, medical and communications equipment worth £5 million, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, announced on Friday.
Speaking in the Foreign Office, Mr Hague said that ordinary Syrians were "at the mercy of a regime that is hunting down its opponents". Consequently, Britain had decided to "greatly increase what we will do to support them".
This help will come in the form of "an extra £5 million of non-lethal practical assistance" for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the biggest rebel group. Mr Hague said this package would include medical supplies and communications equipment to "help activists overcome the regime's communications blockade".
Britain would supply mobile and satellite phones, along with radios, which "could be used to warn civilians of impending regime assaults". Equipment of this kind could also be used to coordinate military operations.
Mr Hague confirmed that Britain was in contact with the "political arm" of the FSA, but stressed that no military advice or weaponry has been – or would be – provided. "That's never been our approach in any of these conflicts in the Middle East," said the Foreign Secretary. "If we were to do that, there would be difficulties, there would be risks attached to how that equipment would be used. It would be hard to guarantee how that equipment would be used. There have been reports of atrocities on the opposition side."
