The US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel as admitted that the government is reconsidering its opposition to the arming of the Syrian opposition.
"Arming the rebels - that's an option," he said to reporters at a press conference alongside Britain’s Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond.
"You look at and rethink all options. It doesn't mean you do or you will. These are options that must be considered with the international community: what is possible, what can help accomplish [our] objectives."
Hammond said the UK has not been providing weapons because of an EU ban on arming the rebels.
But "we will look at the situation when that ban expires in a few weeks' time," he said.