Western and Arab intelligence services that support Syria’s struggling opposition gathered for a two-day strategy meeting in Washington last week that appears to signal a stronger effort to back the rebels.

Sources warn that President Barack Obama is still wary of any major escalation in Syria that might involve U.S. forces directly.

Arab countries have urged the U.S. to double this training capacity.

The rebels have reshuffled their command structure, which should fit better with the new intelligence alliance. Gen. Salim Idriss has been forced out as head of the Free Syrian Army’s military command. Idriss was backed by U.S. officials because he was an articulate proponent for preserving the Syrian army and state structure, but he had limited support among fighters.

Gen. Abdul-Ilah Bashir, who defected from the Syrian army last year and is based in Qunaitra, on Syria’s southern border.

It’s hoped that Bashir in the south and Afiseh in the north can better coordinate the two fronts.