US suspends non-lethal aid to northern Syria

The United States has suspended all non-lethal assistance destined for rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's forces in northern Syria, US officials said Wednesday, citing fears the aid could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda linked militants.

A US Embassy official in the Turkish capital, Ankara, said the United States was suspending all military aid such as night vision goggles and communication equipment to the opposition in northern Syria after ultraconservative opposition factions seized control of bases from the main Western-backed group on Friday. (AP)