UN Security Council to Meet with Syrian Opposition

Will include military and political leaders

The U.N. Security Council will hold an informal meeting with members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition this week, though it is unclear whether the chief rebel commander will attend, Britain's U.N. envoy said on Tuesday.

The meeting will take place on Friday and include political and military representatives of the Syrian opposition, British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said in a statement. Saudi-backed tribal leader Ahmed al-Jarba, the new president of the coalition, will lead the delegation, he said.

Lyall Grant said the informal nature of the meeting would "provide a forum for members of the council to have a frank and informal exchange with the National Coalition, to discuss key issues relating to the Syrian conflict."