A growing number of activists in Syria are taking up arms to protect themselves from the government's violent crackdown that has claimed thousands of civilians' lives since March.

They have begun setting up military councils in provinces across the country to create an organised command structure.

And the Syrian National Council, a leading opposition group, says it is ready to logistically back the armed uprising to prevent more civilians from being killed.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut.