In June US President Barack Obama said the US would arm the Syrian rebels, but he is having a difficult time convincing lawmakers from both sides of the isle agree.
The clashes between Free Syrian Army fighters and al-Qaeda backed extremist rebels are becoming more frequent and violent, with the disunity giving Assad’s forces an advantage.
The violence in Syria has triggered an increasing internal migration in the areas affected by the conflict, mirroring broader divisions in society with groups on both sides fearing genocide.
The reality is that opposition militias and the official army have reached a military stalemate – one step forward and one step back as progress on one front is checked by loss and retreat on another.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that France and Britain are prepared to start supplying arms to the Syrian rebels even without unanimous EU support.