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US reportedly airdrops arms to rebels battling Daesh in Syria
The US has reportedly dropped weapons to rebel fighters in Syria
A US defence official confirmed that the airdrop took place but denied that it included light weapons or anti-tank weapons
The weapons supplies were airdropped to rebels in Marea, a town in the northern province of Aleppo on Friday.
"Coalition airplanes dropped ... ammunitions, light weapons and anti-tank weapons to rebels in Marea," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman, , said.
He said it was the first time the coalition had made such a drop to rebel fighters other than the Kurds.
A US defence official confirmed with AFP news agency that the airdrop took place but denied that they included light weapons or anti-tank weapons.
In recent days, the fighting has intensified near Marea, with the UN estimating that 8,000 Syrians are trapped by the violence.
About 2,000 people had managed to leave Marea and Sheikh Issa before the closure of a main road between Marea and Azaz, Aljazeera reports.
The developments come as a former Russian diplomat tells Al Jazeera that his country is seriously considering putting boots on the ground in Syria.
"This is under discussion; there are plans for this," former Russian deputy foreign affairs minister Andrei Fyodorov, told Al Jazeera.
The reinforcements could be special forces or volunteer soldiers who are willing to fight alongside the Syrian army and its allies.
