House Lawmakers Split on Helping Arm Syrian Rebels

Worries about weapons falling into the wrong hands

A House hearing Wednesday revealed a sharp split over providing military aid, even amid reports Assad is using chemical weapons.

House lawmakers are deeply divided over proposals to arm rebel groups in Syria, amid unconfirmed reports that President Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons against opposition forces.

At a hearing Wednesday, lawmakers pushed back on legislation from the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs panel, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) to provide $150 million in military assistance – including weapons—to forces looking to topple the Assad regime.