JUST IN: US Okays Diplomatic Mission For Syrian Opposition

The Obama administration gave approval Monday for the Syrian opposition to open a formal diplomatic mission in Washington and said it would increase non-lethal assistance to the opposition by $27 million.

The steps announced by the State Department upgrade the status of the Syrian Opposition Council, which had been represented by an informal liaison office, and boosts total U.S. assistance to $287 million since the conflict began three years ago. The administration had recognized the council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in December 2012.

The office won't be an embassy but will now be considered a "foreign mission" under U.S. law. The upgrade is largely symbolic, but U.S. officials said it has been a key request of the opposition for some time as they believe it will give them greater presence and credibility with officials in Washington and among Syrian expatriates in the United States.
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