Details of the order signed earlier this year are unclear, writes Mark Hosenball of Reuters, but the finding "broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust Assad."
U.S. officials have expressed more support for the Syrian rebels since last month's failure of the U.N. Security Council to agrees on tougher sanctions for Assad's government.
"The White House is for now apparently stopping short of giving the rebels lethal weapons, even as some U.S. allies do just that," Reuters says. "The full extent of clandestine support that agencies like the CIA might be providing also is unclear."
CNN, citing "U.S. officials," also reported on Obama's order of support for the Syrian rebels.
From the CNN report:
The Obama administration has ruled out arming the rebels for now, providing only nonlethal assistance, such as communications equipment.
Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department approved a license allowing the Washington Syrian Support Group to provide direct financial assistance to the Free Syrian Army. The Washington-based representative of the Free Syrian Army is allowed to conduct financial transactions on the rebel group's behalf but is not allowed to send military equipment.
During the war in Libya, Obama signed a similar directive authorizing covert assistance for rebels in the battle against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
