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Obama upping the ante in Syria

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    Orders CIA to provide rebel support

  • Duration 3:29
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Shooting I have -- -- and this is a Fox News alert breaking reports say Syrian forces.

At killed at least fifty people during clashes with rebels in the central city of -- -- This is just within the past few hours the brutal Syrian civil war is growing deadlier by the day by the hour.

And now President Obama has committed American resources to the fight.

Syrian rebels are for the first time turning heavy weapons captured from government troops against them in the nation's largest city.

And the UN envoy to Syria abruptly quit today.

The president has given the US intelligence community orders to get involved national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is watching all of this from the Pentagon.

As the fighting escalates and Syria's largest city -- less so for the first time president Bashar asides fighter jets are seen firing on to civilian areas.

The situation became too much for UN peace envoy Kofi -- who resigned today.

And the clear -- -- -- in the security comes from.

How fundamentally change the circumstances.

Could be effective exercise of my -- The conflict in Syria maybe entering a new phase opposition fighters seem better -- -- more organized than before.

This amateur video appears to show one fighter holding an advance shoulder fired missile.

Presumably an SA seven as of yet none of the surface to air missiles has brought down any Syrian planes or helicopters.

A senior US official tells fox that President Obama has signed what is known as a finding directing the CIA.

And other agencies to provide support to the Syrian opposition fighters the CIA declined to comment.

The president stopped short of allowing lethal aid or weapons to the Syrian fighters.

US Treasury Department however.

Issued a license last month it would clear the way for private groups to provide money to the insurgents.

A loosening of restrictions that occurred with little fanfare.

It's a significant move because it allows the Syrian support group.

To coordinate.

Financing.

Logistics communications.

And services to be true to the Free Syrian Army quit the funds -- if they could they could purchase weapons.

The CIA has been helping the Syrian opposition with nonlethal support helping with command and control from a base in Turkey near a -- The US has a large air base nearby at in Cilic.

Experts are skeptical that the CIA is training the Free Syrian Army and it's nine factions to fire SA sevens.

The US government is very.

Careful about shoulder fired weapons and has.

It's taken many many steps to prevent -- proliferation.

And and misuse and I would be very very surprised if they were to providing training to the rebels in their news.

One reason for increased US help to the Syrian fighters is the appearance of al-Qaeda factions.

Attempting to -- back payments the fighting is prologue.

In London today British prime minister David Cameron took Russian president Vladimir Putin's.

To the Olympic judo finals to talk about Syria.

The Russians have blocked UN efforts to tighten sanctions against the Asad regime.

At the UN tomorrow vote is expected on a watered down general assembly resolution that removes a call for Assad to step down.

The White House says Kofi Annan's resignation highlights Russia and China's failure.

To back further Security Council action against Syria -- Jennifer Griffin -- the Pentagon tonight Jennifer thank you more.

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