Britain succeeded in persuading the European Union not to renew an embargo on supplying weapons to Syria's opposition forces
The White House said that it backed the drive by Britain and France to ensure that Syrian rebels were capable of taking on the regime, which has launched an offensive to retake opposition territory in the run-up to an international peace conference next month. The Pentagon has been asked to draw plans for a no-fly-zone which would be enforced by US, British and French fighter jets
Russia vowed to deliver a sophisticated anti-aircraft missile system to Bashar al-Assad after expressing anger over British-led moves to arm Syria's rebels.
Moscow said it was being forced to send the S-300 system to Syria's president to prevent Western "hotheads" from intervening in the country's civil war.
Israel added to the growing sense of escalation by saying it would not stand by while the S-300 missiles were deployed.
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