AP Interview: Syria rebel chief says EU countries must quickly ship arms after lifting embargo

BEIRUT – The commander of the main umbrella group of Syrian rebels says he is "very disappointed" that the lifting of Europe's arms embargo won't lead to immediate weapons shipments to his outgunned fighters.

Gen. Salim Idris also told The Associated Press that the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, an ally of the Syrian regime, has thousands of fighters in Syria and is the main threat to his Free Syrian Army, a coalition of rebel units.

The general spoke by phone from Turkey after the European Union decided to let its arms embargo against Syria expire, freeing member countries to provide weapons. However none of the block's 27 members have any immediate plans to send arms to the rebels.

Idris says he's run out of patience with the international community.