"Moderate, well-organised fighters from the Hazm movement have for the first time received more than 20 TOW anti-tank missiles from a Western source," the source said on condition of anonymity, and without specifying who had supplied the rockets. ...
"More have been promised should it be proven that the missiles are being used in an effective way," the source said.
This model, improved over the decades, is an old design. And I'm sure that there are older models that will work fine against Assad's armored vehicles. So I don't worry about these falling into the wrong hands.
It's a small start, to be sure. But in time, this weapon will induce more caution by Assad's armored vehicle crews.
I wonder what the proof is? Videos? I know in the campaign against the Soviets in Afghanistan, we supplied new Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to rebels only when we received a spent launcher in return.
UPDATE: The missiles seen in action are older models:
Wednesday NPR reported that the CIA plans to send more arms and training to Syrian rebels and that 50 TOW missile systems had been sent to Harakat Hazam as a part of a “test” or pilot program. ...
[The] current TOW fielded by the US military no longer has a wire command linked warhead, instead using an infared aiming system. Syrian rebels, however, appear to operating an older version of the system as screen grabs indicate that the warhead is still wire guided.
If the pilot program works, more will be sent.
