Syria's opposition and foreign powers are set to hold crucial talks in the Italian capital of Rome, with the US suggesting it plans to support Syrian rebels in their bid to topple President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The Friends of Syria meeting on Thursday comes after US Secretary of State John Kerry said the opposition needs "more help" in the fight against Assad and that Washington wants to speed up the country's political transition.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports Beirut.