Syrian opposition groups and rebel factions are set to meet in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in an effort to form a unified front ahead of proposed peace talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.
Wednesday's meeting takes place under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, a backer of Sunni opposition blocs pushing for Assad's ouster. The nearly five-year civil war has killed more than a quarter of a million people and triggered a refugee crisis of massive proportions.
Among those expected to attend are representatives of the Western-backed opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, and the Syria-based National Coordination Body, as well as rebel factions like the Western-backed Free Syrian Army, the Saudi-backed Jaysh al-Islam and the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham.
Notably absent are Kurdish factions, which said they weren't invited.
