Washington ( CNN ) -- The Obama administration is moving toward increasing aid to the Syrian opposition , including providing nonlethal military equipment and possibly strategic military training , sources told CNN Tuesday . The changes are under discussion with allies as well , as part Secretary of State John Kerry 's meetings this week in Europe , a senior administration official said . The sources said the United States is not considering providing weapons . The administration is also moving toward giving humanitarian aid directly to the Syrian Opposition Coalition , the official said , adding that this was already happening in limited amounts . Obama 's national security policy resembles Eisenhower 's . The consideration was first reported on Tuesday by The Washington Post . The United States is also looking to remove restrictions on `` dual-use '' equipment , such as those involving communications , body armor , flak jackets , night-vision equipment and military vehicles , according to another source familiar with the policy discussions . Such items are defensive in nature , but they could be used to aid in combat . The training would be intended to help rebels allocate resources and set objectives , strategize and possibly train a potential police force , the source said . `` They are doing a redefinition of what is lethal , '' the source said . `` They have been working on this for a while . '' The source said the United States is also helping the new Syrian government in exile get on its feet by developing government institutions , strategic communications and outreach . The increase is being done in coordination with the Europeans . A senior European diplomat said that though the European Union is not lifting its arms embargo against Syria , its members are moving to loosen restrictions on nonlethal military aid -- including night-vision goggles , body armor and possible military training . Each EU nation would decide on its own what to supply , the official said . Reversing course , Syrian opposition group to attend Rome conference . In meetings on his first official trip , Kerry has focused on Syria . He met Tuesday with German officials and with Russia 's foreign minister . Their two-hour discussion included Syria , said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland . On Thursday , Kerry travels to Rome for a meeting of countries supporting the opposition . Kerry was involved in an effort to keep the Syrian opposition -- upset by the government 's attacks on Aleppo and a perceived lack of movement by other countries to prevent it -- from following through on an announced boycott of the Rome meeting . The U.S. ambassador to Syria , Robert Ford , flew Sunday to Cairo to talk to the opposition and Kerry spoke Monday by phone with the group . By Monday evening , the group announced it would attend Thursday 's meetings . `` We are determined that the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind wondering where the support is or if it is coming , and we are determined to change the calculation on the ground for President ( Bashar al-Assad ) , '' Kerrry said Monday in London . Until recently , the loosely coordinated rebel movement was heavily outgunned by al-Assad 's military forces , who leveraged superior weaponry and an air force . But rebels have made significant gains recently . As foreign countries have funneled more weapons to the opposition , rebels have seized control of greater territory , and the fighting has moved closer to the capital of Damascus , according to opposition fighters . The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia was supplying the rebels with Croatian weapons funneled through Jordan . `` Indeed , we procured new anti-aircraft and heavy defensive weapons donated from Arab and non-Arab countries recently , '' Louay Almokdad , political and media coordinator for the Free Syrian Army , told CNN on Sunday . `` But they are not enough to stand against the regime 's forces at this point . '' French journalist killed while covering Syrian civil war . CNN 's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report .
Changes are under discussion with allies , too , a senior administration official says . Sources say the United States is not considering providing weapons . The United States may remove restrictions on `` dual-use '' equipment , another source says . `` They are doing a redefinition of what is lethal , '' the source says .