France: 100 Countries Recognize Syria France's Foreign Minister says more than 100 countries have recognized the newly formed Syrian opposition coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people. Free Syrian Army fighters look at a Syrian Army jet, not pictured, in Fafeen village, north of Aleppo province, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Syrian rebels including Islamic extremists took full control of a sprawling military base Tuesday after a bloody two-day battle that killed dozens of soldiers, activists said. It was the latest gain by opposition forces bolstered by an al-Qaida-linked group that has provided skilled fighters but raised concerns in the West. The decision opens the way for greater assistance to the forces fighting the regime of Bashar Assad, which had been criticized for being not organized and representative enough.