CIA suspends anti-Assad rebel arming program

US President Donald Trump's decision to end the arming and training programme of the so-called “-moderate Syrian rebels”, originally reported by the newspaper “Washington Post” on Wednesday, was welcomed by all named as “an excellent news”.

During a security conference in Aspen, Colorado, General Tony Thomas, commander of the US Special Forces, said this move does not constitute a concession for Russia.

The programme, launched by former President Barack Obama in 2013, was designed to exert pressure on Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime and has been criticised by Russia, which is his supporter.

Government officials told the newspaper “Washington Post” that Trump's decision to end the CIA's secret programme clearly shows his interest in co-operating with Russia.

Moscow is one of the most important supporters of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.

According to “Washington Post”, the decision to suspend the programme was taken a month before US President Vladimir Putin's meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, two weeks ago.

Government officials told “Washington Post” that Trump and Putin may have agreed to a ceasefire agreement involving southwestern Syria during their meeting at the G20 summit.