Syrian Opposition Group Announces 'New Military Structure'

A Syrian opposition group announced Monday that they are creating a new military structure consisting of 12,000 fighters to topple the regime of the Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"We announce today the unification of all fronts in a single center to bring about the collapse of the oppressing regime," Khaled al-Okla from the Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF) read from a statement at a press conference.

The SRF is active across Syria and has 12,000 men under command, uniting more than 100 "battalions," according to a video presentation broadcast during the conference.

Asked about the relationship between the SRF and the Free Syrian Army, the main opposition force made up of deserting Syrian army officers, Okla said the two forces had frequent "discussions" and were working in "cooperation."

The SRF also claims support from some members of the Syrian National Council (SNC), recognized by world leaders as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

"We, the SNC, bless the founding of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front and affirm that we will provide full support," said a member of the SNC executive committee, Ahmad Ramadan.

"We say the fight for the freedom of Syria has begun," he added.

Haitham al-Maleh, a prominent human rights activist, also said he supported the new structure, in a video message sent to the SRF.

The new military structure has a more integrated structure to combat Damascus than the Free Syrian Army, which offers a wide platform without strong organic links, said Mahmut Osman, another member of the SNC.

"The SNC supports this unification of groups acting on the ground," he added.