The Obama administration is going to ask Congress for $60 million to aid the Syrian opposition. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the aid will "help the Syrian opposition council provide basic goods and services in areas under rebel control." NPR reports that the U.S. is also offering the free Syrian army "non-lethal assistance," meaning food rations and medical supplies.

This is the first time the U.S. is offering aid directly to the Syrian armed rebels, although the U.S. will not provide them with weapons. The U.S. fears that giving the rebels weapons that would potentially arm Islamists who are now fighting against Assad, and so chose not to satisfy that aspect of the rebels' request for aid.

The $60 million would add to the $385 million in humanitarian aid and the $54 million in non-lethal assistance to the opposition that the U.S. has already provided. The conflict in Syria has gone on for two years.

 

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