Obama said to be closing in on decision to arm Syrian rebels

“At the president’s direction, his national security team continues to consider all possible options that would accomplish our objectives of helping the Syrian opposition serve the essential needs of the Syrian people and hastening a political transition to a post-Assad Syria,” Bernadette Meehan told The Hill in an email. “We have prepared a wide range of options for the President’s consideration, and internal meetings to discuss the situation in Syria are routine.”

{mosads}The new report comes as Assad’s force are pushing back the rebels in the country’s west with support from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group.

Lawmakers in Congress are also responding to the evolving situation on the ground by calling for more U.S. support. The Senate Foreign Relations panel voted 15-3 last month to arm vetted rebel groups, and the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs panel, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), has introduced legislation to do likewise.

Please send tips and comments to Julian Pecquet: jpecquet@digital-stage.thehill.com

Follow us on Twitter: @TheHillGlobal and @JPecquetTheHill