Syrian rebel chief: US aid would boost rebels

The commander of the main Western-backed rebel group fighting in Syria said Friday he hoped that US weapons will be in the hands of rebels in the near future, saying it will boost the morale of the fighters on the ground.

The comments by Gen. Salim Idris to Al-Arabiya TV followed a decision by President Barack Obama to authorize sending weapons to Syrian rebels, marking a deepening of US involvement in Syria's two-year civil war. (AP)