was a classified weapons supply and training program run by the 
United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and supported by some Arab intelligence services, such as the security service in 
Saudi Arabia. Launched in 2012 or 2013, it supplied money, weaponry and training to rebel forces fighting Syrian President 
Bashar al-Assad in the 
Syrian Civil War. According to US officials, the program was run by the CIA's 
Special Activities Division [6] and has trained thousands of rebels.
[7][8] President 
Barack Obama secretly authorized the CIA to begin arming Syria’s embattled rebels in 2013.
[9]