Russia not reason for U.S. ending CIA arms to Syria rebels - general

FILE PHOTO: Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Thomas testifies on his nomination to be general and commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

ASPEN, Colo. (Reuters) - A U.S. decision to halt a CIA programme equipping and training certain rebel groups fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was not done as a concession to Assad ally Russia, a top U.S. general said on Friday.

Earlier this week a U.S. official said the decision was part of an effort by the Trump administration to improve relations with Russia, which along with Iranian-supported groups has largely succeeded in preserving Assad's government in the six-year-long civil war.