The United States announced an extra $30 million in aid to those affected by the war in Syria on Wednesday, Nov 14, and called the formation of a new opposition coalition an important step that would help Washington better target its help, according to Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement after talks in Perth involving her Australian counterpart Bob Carr and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith.

But the United States stopped short of offering full recognition of the Syrian opposition or offering arms.