The closed Syrian embassy is pictured in Washington on March 18, 2014.
In a boost to the Syrian opposition, Washington is to recognize its offices in the United States as foreign diplomatic missions, US officials said Monday as the opposition chief prepares for high-level talks here.
The move, ahead of the first official visit by the head of the National Coalition Ahmad Jarba, aims "to empower the Syrian moderate opposition and bolster its efforts to assist people who need help inside Syria," a senior US administration figure told reporters.