The Times published on Friday a report under the head line “US and Allies Are Training Rebels in Fight against Assad”.

The Times published on Friday a report under the headline “US and Allies Are Training Rebels in Fight against Assad”.

The British paper said that “the US and several of its European allies are overseeing training bases for the Syrian rebels in Jordan in an effort to bolster moderate groups fighting to overthrow President (Bashar) Assad.”

The paper indicated that “the move is the most far-reaching US involvement yet in the Syrian crisis and reflects broader Western concerns that Islamic militants such as Jabhat Al-Nusra (Front) are making the running in the battle against the regime.”

It further quoted intelligence officers and diplomats in the region as saying that “rebel fighters are being offered training ranging from the use of light arms to more complicated maneuvers, such as how to secure chemical-weapons facilities.”