Syria rebels to get direct non-lethal support from U.S. for 1st time, Secretary Kerry announces

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gestures as he speaks with the Syrian opposition's National Coalition chief Mouaz al-Khatib, during a meeting of the "Friends of the Syrian People (FOSP) Ministerial" group, Feb. 28, 2013 in Rome. / Getty

Last Updated 8:42 a.m. ET

ROME U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that the Syrian Opposition Coalition was the "legitimate voice of the Syrian people," and for the first time will receive direct, non-lethal support from Washington. He warned that Syria's long-time dictator, President Bashar Assad, was an individual "out of time, and who must be out of power."

Kerry spoke in Rome alongside his Italian counterpart and the head of the Opposition Coalition, Mouaz al-Khatib, on the sidelines of an international conference on Syria.

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Kerry meets opposition leaders over support in Syria

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American support for Syrian Rebels

Secretary Kerry said that the U.S will not provide weapons or soldiers, but it will give food and medical supplies and pledge millions of dollars so that the Syrian opposition can begin to provide security and govern liberated parts of Syria.

"Today, on behalf of President Obama -- who has been very clear about the stakes in Syria -- I am proud to announce that the United States of America will be providing an additional $60 million immediately in non-lethal assistance to support the coalition in its operational needs day-to-day," Kerry said.

European nations were also expected to signal their intention to provide fresh assistance to the opposition.

Kerry said the U.S. decision was designed to increase pressure on Assad to step down and pave the way for a democratic transition. He said the aid was also intended to help the opposition govern newly liberated areas of Syria and blunt the influence of extremists.

"No nation, no people should live in fear of their so-called leaders," Kerry said.

"For more than a year, the United States and our partners have called on Assad to heed the voice of the Syrian people and to halt his war machine," Kerry said. "Instead, what we have seen is his brutality increase."

Kerry added, "The United States' decision to take further steps now is the result of the brutality of superior armed force propped up by foreign fighters from Iran and Hezbollah."

Washington has already provided $385 million in humanitarian aid to Syria's war-weary population and $54 million in communications equipment, medical supplies and other nonlethal assistance to Syria's political opposition. The U.S. also has screened rebel groups for Turkey and American allies in the Arab world that have armed rebel fighters.

But until now, no U.S. dollars or provisions have gone directly to rebel fighters, reflecting concerns about forces that have allied themselves with more radical Islamic elements since Assad's initial crackdown on peaceful protesters in March 2011.

"Given the stakes, the president will now extend food and medical supplies to the Syrian opposition, including the Supreme Military Council," Kerry said Thursday.

The $60 million will go to Assad's political opposition. U.S. officials said the rations and medical supplies will be delivered to the rebels through their military council, and is to be distributed only to carefully vetted members of the Free Syrian Army.

The U.S. will be sending technical advisers to the Syrian National Coalition offices in Cairo to oversee and help them spend the money for good governance and rule of law. The advisers will be from non-governmental organizations and other groups that do this kind of work.

CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan reports that the U.S. wants the opposition to counter the threat posed by Al Qaeda affiliates who have established control of cities inside Syria. European countries are considering giving military support, like night vision goggles and combat armor. Some of the Gulf countries are providing weapons.

But at this point the rebels say this assistance, while badly needed, is not what it has asked for in terms of building an Army to end the two-year war, said Brennan.

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Syria's opposition forces unifying behind one man

In December Mouaz al-Khatib told CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward that the international community has not done enough to help Syria.

"The international community fell short in its support to the Syrian people," he said. "For 20 months, the Syrian people have been killed, slaughtered ... The international community started to wake up now. Some organizations provided some modest aid, [and] we thank them for that. But, generally speaking, the international community has fallen short in providing that support."

He added that humanitarian aid should not be seen as charity. "The Syrian people have paid a high price, with its blood, to gain its freedom," Khatib said. "They are now claiming their dues from the international community. The faster this humanitarian aid, the more the country will be spared further turmoils."

Khatib also said that when the Assad regime falls, he expects the opposition coalition will be able to pick up the pieces in Syria. "I expect that there would be a good control on the ground because of the presence of hundreds of civil groups operating inside Syria," he said, "and they are organizing themselves for when that day comes. They are already securing bread distribution, traffic control ... they are preoccupied with setting up judicial committees ... security committees. The Syrian people has taken big steps in the establishment the 'day after' committees. I could not say that this is covering every single part of Syria, but it is widely developing."

• Highlights from interview with Syrian rebel leader Moaz al-Khatib

[spacengin]

I would like to see military aid to the Free Syrian Army so that they can assume and take control. Their frustration with Obama's dilly dallying is understandable. However, Russia is blocking the Western countries action in the UN. Russia is still supporting Assad's massacres. Shame on the Russians. Hopefully, some American action is happening behind the scene. Obviously, Obama wants to avoid giving them weapons that can be turned against the US in the future, but the US should support the sectarian/democratic forces.

[hondarider420]

I think it is sad that syria isn't closer, like Mexico. Then Eric the AG could just buy weapons and slip them across the border. Lets see we close 258 control towers at airports, we will soon close the national parks.We close military base here in the US, insteed of the ones in Germany and Japan. We talk of laying off 40,000 fed employees. Yet not one Washington fat cat fears for his job. It may be time to kick the whole bunch of free loaders off the dole.

[mici07]

we're stickin our foot in the door of a much larger problem than Assad. Neither side is our friend nor will they be.

[palebluegod]

Ever since he got his name in lights protesting the war he was in, Kerry hasn't heard of another that wasn't worth fighting.

Good thing that God appointed America to be the sole arbiter of international law.

The $60 million will certainly help, but how do they get the rebels to itemize car bomb expenses?

[RobiRob]

Its an outrage that this is the very first time the Obama administration has provided direct non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition. This should have happened well over a year ago when Assad was first slaughtering his people, and it shows the timidity and spinelessness of an administration bent on providing Putin and Russia with "more flexibility." If Obama were half the man he thinks he is, he would instead be willing to provide arms to non-Islamist forces fighting to protect ordinary Syrians from indiscriminate murder, or a 'no fly-zone' to prevent Syrian military aircraft (provided by Russia) from bombing innocent civilians.

[quincytodd]

Gee Robirob, you sound like another typical Tea Partier. You say that we should arm a bunch of riff raft in Syria with money we don't have in the first place where we have absolutely no business!

[WINEEDSCHANGE]

no we should stay out of it altogether as we have no business over there and it is not our job to be world police. How about we fix the craphole here before trying to make other countries have better lives

[chatmandu7451]

We give them 60 billion in aid and they will spit in our faces when or if they take control.

[Pat2013]

60 MILLION...not that much is it? Qatar is probably contributing more...

[dustin96v]

Assad wastes his time with hard liquor, hashish smoke, and becoming psychotic from LSD, synthetic (ice) T, and methamphetamine abuse. The Pentagon should send sophisticated armed drone technology to Israel for attacks on Assad's Forces.

[rjwinslow]

Too bad we couldn't throw in a few surface to air missels - if I were on the ground there I'd appreciate that a lot more. And to those who think the money might be better spend domestically - you're right, but those zany congress critters have rules about how the budget has to be cut, and for foreign aid - not so much. And the military can easily find $60M by collecting the change in a Pentagon couch or two.

[vernique3]

the military/industrial corporations win again.

[AIG_LEISHMANIA_DEATH]

Look here you Bum, I want a Starbucks Now!!