WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States does not appear to have clear-cut legal authority to protect Syrian rebels it trains from attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even if Congress approves new war powers, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.
Still, Carter said a final determination has not been made.
"My understanding of that question is that we don't foresee that happening any time soon, but a legal determination, I?m told by the lawyers, has not been made, whether we would have authority to do that or not," he told a Senate hearing.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle and David Alexander)
