Gulf states 'may send rocket launchers' to Syrian rebels

Syrian rebels may receive even more advanced weaponry from Gulf states in the wake of the ceasefire collapse and the surge in regime and Russian airstrikes, US officials have warned.

Armed opposition factions have long desired anti-aircraft missile launchers - and frustration with failed diplomacy could be the trigger for Turkey or Gulf nations to supply them.

"The Saudis have always thought that the way to get the Russians to back off is what worked in Afghanistan 30 years ago - negating their air power by giving MANPADS [man portable air-defence systems] to the mujahideen," a Pentagon source told Reuters.

"So far, we've been able to convince them that the risks of that are much higher today because we're not dealing with a Soviet Union in retreat, but a Russian leader who's bent on rebuilding Russian power and less likely to flinch," the official said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Missiles

Opposition fighters in Syria have, over the past five years of war, been loosely divided by Washington and US allies into "moderate" and "extremist" groups based on a combination of factors, including religiosity, funding sources and links to other armed groups such as al-Qaeda.

While "extremist" factions have been shunned by the West, "moderate" groups have often received arms - including anti-tank weaponry, machine guns and ammunition - from supporters in Gulf nations, and frequently in coordination with the United States. 

Washington says it has tried to keep anti-aircraft missiles out of the hands of Syrian rebels, but as the regime continues its relentless bombing campaign, the Pentagon's Gulf allies may no longer follow its lead. 

Asked if the US was would do anything beyond negotiations to put an end to the violence, State Department spokesman Mark Toner stressed that Washington does not want to see anyone pouring more weapons into the conflict.

"What you would have as a result is just an escalation in what is already horrific fighting," Toner told Reuters.

"Things could go from bad to much worse," he added.

Victims

On Monday, food and medical supplies were running out in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, with victims crowding into barely functioning hospitals following a fresh wave of airstrikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least 12 people, including three children, were killed in Monday's raids.

Since the truce fell apart last week, a total of 248 people have been killed in Aleppo city and the wider province by