While Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, today called support for the Syrian opposition "unacceptable", rebels have made progress on the ground, capturing a helicopter base just outside Damascus.
Activists called the gain a "blow to the morale of the regime" but on the same day government forces were accused of launching an attack near the capital, which killed at least eight children, according to the UK-based, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Despite France offering official recognition of the Syrian opposition, the political coalition of rebel groups remains fragmented and countries such as Russia have stood by the regime.
On the battlefield, the helicopter base victory demonstrated how rebels are making inroads into the capital. However, the opposition fighters are still outgunned by government troops, particularly in the air. Rebels have taken down government helicopters in the past but they remain a serious threat to their advance.
Speaking about the capture on Sunday, Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory said: "This is a blow to the morale of the regime, because it is close to the heart of the capital."
