Syrian opposition forms new coalition
03:45 - Source: CNN

Read a version of this story in Arabic.

Story highlights

NEW: At least 172 died Tuesday, opposition says

France formally recognizes new Syrian coalition; U.S. says it will give aid

Syrian spokesman: Opposition abroad is "clinically dead," even after a recent unification

"Defending Syria is a national destiny and not a political option," an official says

CNN  — 

France and the United States put their support behind a new coalition of Syrian dissidents Tuesday, but Damascus slammed the group, saying any effort to topple President Bashar al-Assad will be futile.

French President Francois Hollande said his nation “recognizes the Syrian national coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people and therefore as the provisional government of the future democratic Syria, making it possible to bring Bashar al-Assad’s regime to an end.”

In Washington, a deputy spokesman for the State Department said the U.S. believes the decision to unite opposition groups marks the start of a democratic future for the Syrian people. The U.S. has yet to formally recognize the group, though, as a representative government.

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“We’re going to work with them in the coming days to ensure that our humanitarian and nonlethal assistance serves the needs of the Syrian people,” Mark Toner told reporters.

Hollande, however, said the issue of arming the rebels “will have to be renewed” in nations that back the new National Coalition Forces of the Syrian Revolution.

The Syrian government remained defiant.

“There is no power in this entire world that can defeat Syria because we have a valiant military and our noble people believe in our cause,” Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said, according to the state-run Tishreen news agency. “Defending Syria is a national destiny and not a political option.”

He also described dissidents outside Syria as “nothing but an empty bubble.”

“The opposition abroad is clinically dead, and they are in a state of turmoil,” al-Zoubi said.

The latest insults in the Syrian civil war came days after opposition factions formally agreed in Qatar to unite on Sunday.

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After 20 months of relentless turmoil, rebel forces had not had a unified vision for the country or single military plan to oust al-Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for more than four decades. The United States and Arab nations pressured the groups to get on the same page.

The new coalition agreed that it wants al-Assad gone and that no one would talk with his government. Spokesman Mohammed Dugham said the only option now is a totally new government.

On Monday, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council endorsed the coalition.

Despite the opposition’s unification efforts – and in light of the government’s defiance – the bloody civil war rages on.

At least 172 people died Tuesday, including 109 people in the Damascus region, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said.

Arab League recognizes new Syrian opposition coalition

The U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday it is working to provide aid to residents who have fled Syria.

“The number of Syrian refugees registered or awaiting registration throughout the surrounding region has now surpassed 407,000 and continues to climb. There are tens of thousands more Syrians around the region who have not registered. Many are expected to come forward for registration and assistance in the coming weeks as winter sets in and their resources run out,” the agency said.

Doctors Without Borders said it has treated more than 2,500 patients at four new hospitals in northern Syria since June. Doctors have conducted 550 surgical procedures, the charity group said.

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CNN’s Saad Abedine, Saskya Vandoorne and Holly Yan contributed to this report.