U.S. officials reported sending out CIA-funded weaponry to Syrian rebels on Thursday, but opposition forces said they haven't received them.
The official, who spoke to the Washington Post on grounds of anonymity, confirmed the details.
"That is something we are not going to dispute, but we are going to publicly speak to it," the official stated.
The official explained that the weapons were not manufactured in America, but they were paid for and organized by the CIA. They started sending weapons out about two weeks ago, in packages consisting of light artillery, ammunition and anti-tank weaponry, CNN reported.
But the two largest opposition groups - the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army - said they have yet to receive any arms from the United States.
"We have some promises from the U.S. administration of shipment of weapons in a short period of time, but until now we have not received any," Free Syrian Army Political and Media Coordinator Louay al-Mokdad told CNN. "We have logistical help, but we didn't get weapons... We hope that in the next short period of time we will start receiving weapons, because we have promises from EU countries and the U.S. that they will help us and support us."
This aid will add to the non-lethal assistance the United States has provided since April, including night vision goggles, body armor and various pieces of military equipment.
According to the official, the government has been planning to send aid to the Syrian opposition for a while, not in response to those that speculate the U.S. isn't providing help for rebel forces.
Earlier on Thursday, Senator John McCain stressed the importance of bringing aid to the opposition, while dispelling assertions that their groups were Islamic extremist-affiliated.
"The Syrians are not going to stand to be governed by al Nusra and foreign fighters," he told the Wall Street Journal. "They're not. They're the most highly educated, most literate nation in the Middle East. And to somehow believe they are going to fall prey to al Qaeda and al Nusra is not a possibility.
"If they feel abandoned, I worry about the consequences. I guarantee you I'm going to hear from Gen. Idris today, and he's going to say, 'Have you abandoned us? Have you abandoned us?'" McCain stated, referencing head of the Free Syrian Army Salim Idris.
