New reports suggest that the CIA (United States Central Intelligence Agency) will be up the ante in terms of funding and arming of insurgents groups in Syria if Moscow and Damascus prove unwilling to sign a new peace deal with the Syrian Opposition (represented by the Islamist HNC) in Geneva.

These preparations for a so-called ‘Plan B’ center on providing vetted moderate rebel units with advanced anti-aircraft weaponry that would help them in directing attacks against the Syrian Arab Army Airforce which dominates the sky in the country.

Thus, such events would aid the Syrian Opposition’s rebellion which aims to overthrow the Damascus government.

The preparations were discussed at a secret meeting of spy chiefs in the Middle East just before the cease-fire took effect on Feb. 27 and in follow-on exchanges between intelligence services.

However, further (secret) CIA funding of moderate Syrian rebel groups, such as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), will likely be halted if ‘plan A’ (peace deal) is implemented.

Officials said the CIA has made clear to its allies that the new weapon systems, once agreed upon, would be given to the rebels only if the truce and the concurrent political track toward a lasting peace — Plan A — fall apart and full-scale fighting resumes.