( CNN ) -- France and the United States put their support behind a new coalition of Syrian dissidents Tuesday , but Damascus slammed the group , saying any effort to topple President Bashar al-Assad will be futile . French President Francois Hollande said his nation `` recognizes the Syrian national coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian people and therefore as the provisional government of the future democratic Syria , making it possible to bring Bashar al-Assad 's regime to an end . '' In Washington , a deputy spokesman for the State Department said the U.S. believes the decision to unite opposition groups marks the start of a democratic future for the Syrian people . The U.S. has yet to formally recognize the group , though , as a representative government . Artists tackle Syria 's brutal civil war . `` We 're going to work with them in the coming days to ensure that our humanitarian and nonlethal assistance serves the needs of the Syrian people , '' Mark Toner told reporters . Hollande , however , said the issue of arming the rebels `` will have to be renewed '' in nations that back the new National Coalition Forces of the Syrian Revolution . The Syrian government remained defiant . `` There is no power in this entire world that can defeat Syria because we have a valiant military and our noble people believe in our cause , '' Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said , according to the state-run Tishreen news agency . `` Defending Syria is a national destiny and not a political option . '' He also described dissidents outside Syria as `` nothing but an empty bubble . '' `` The opposition abroad is clinically dead , and they are in a state of turmoil , '' al-Zoubi said . The latest insults in the Syrian civil war came days after opposition factions formally agreed in Qatar to unite on Sunday . Five signs the war in Syria is changing . After 20 months of relentless turmoil , rebel forces had not had a unified vision for the country or single military plan to oust al-Assad , whose family has ruled Syria for more than four decades . The United States and Arab nations pressured the groups to get on the same page . The new coalition agreed that it wants al-Assad gone and that no one would talk with his government . Spokesman Mohammed Dugham said the only option now is a totally new government . On Monday , the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council endorsed the coalition . Despite the opposition 's unification efforts -- and in light of the government 's defiance -- the bloody civil war rages on . At least 172 people died Tuesday , including 109 people in the Damascus region , the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said . Arab League recognizes new Syrian opposition coalition . The U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday it is working to provide aid to residents who have fled Syria . `` The number of Syrian refugees registered or awaiting registration throughout the surrounding region has now surpassed 407,000 and continues to climb . There are tens of thousands more Syrians around the region who have not registered . Many are expected to come forward for registration and assistance in the coming weeks as winter sets in and their resources run out , '' the agency said . Doctors Without Borders said it has treated more than 2,500 patients at four new hospitals in northern Syria since June . Doctors have conducted 550 surgical procedures , the charity group said . Syrian government denies holding missing journalist , father says . CNN 's Saad Abedine , Saskya Vandoorne and Holly Yan contributed to this report .
NEW : At least 172 died today , opposition says . France formally supports new Syrian coalition ; U.S. says it will provide aid . Syrian government : Syria abroad is ` ` clinically dead , '' even after a recent unification . ` ` : Syria is a national destiny and not a political option , '' an official statement .