The United States said on Monday it would recognize the main opposition Syrian National Coalition ******s as a diplomatic foreign mission and an**unced plans for a $27 million increase in **n-lethal assistance to rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The an**uncement came at the start of a visit to Washington by a Syrian opposition delegation led by Ahmad Jarba, president of the coalition, also k**wn as the Syrian opposition Coalition. He is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday. Syrian government forces have made gains on the battlefield and Damascus has an**unced a presidential election for June 3, expected to be won by Assad.