(CNN) -- For months, rebels fighting the Syrian regime haven't been able come up with a cogent, comprehensive plan to oust President Bashar al-Assad, nor have they decided how Syria would be ruled if and when he goes.
Now there are signs that might be changing. Some of those rebels and representatives of their factions and brigades say they are making a concerted effort to unify, according to insiders who have spoken with CNN.
Five groups of rebels who make up more than half of the opposition movement have made videos pledging that they will work together to forge a future for Syria. They appear to be talking to each other and laying out goals and a single military strategy, according to Louay Almokdad, the civilian spokesman for the Free Syrian Army.
The Western Front posted its video 23 hours ago; the Northern Front posted a video Monday; the Central Region Front posted a video Sunday. Another video by the Supreme Military Council, based in Turkey, was posted Tuesday.
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Chiefly, the rebels have disagreed on who or what entity would take over Syria after al-Assad. Some feel that there should be a secular government, and others want Islamist rule.
One objective they seem to agree on: going after the capital city of Damascus, al-Assad's seat of power.
CNN's reporting Wednesday indicates that al-Assad's regime is hammering the Damascus suburbs. But new rebel brigades are forming in those neighborhoods, with opposition fighters acquiring a cache of smaller weapons, they told CNN. Generally, the suburbs of Damascus have had a dearth of weapons like that, with few in rebel hands. It's unclear who or where the new influx of weapons came from.
Since the Arab Spring-inspired uprising against al-Assad began in March 2011, foreign journalists have been either banned outright or largely prevented, at severe risk to their lives, from covering the conflict. CNN and other media groups have sporadically been able to report inside the country, however. More than 32,000 people have died in fighting, with 81 reported dead Wednesday.
Fifty-two people had died in Damascus and its suburbs by midday Wednesday, rebels told CNN. That's a substantial uptick in casualties from weeks past.
The city is populated by a large number of Assad supporters, and that sets up the possibility of a major, protracted battle for the city between anti-Assad fighters and those who have remained loyal to him.
Taking a city from the suburbs -- working from the outside inward -- has been attempted previously. In the city of Aleppo, rebels who held areas outside the city moved in for battle with Assad loyalists in the city. Bloodshed was immense.
In recent weeks, activists have told CNN that they've noticed more warplanes over Damascus: Before, there were about 20 planes bombing Syria in a day. Now, there have been 60 planes in one day, they said.
The Free Syrian Army says it controls the Damascus neighborhoods of eastern Ghouta and the cities of Harasta and Douma. Regime forces are not able to enter these areas, which are all east of Damascus, so the regime is relying heavily on planes to attack.
While rebels discuss moving in sync in Syria, Britain took bolder steps this week to stop the bloodshed. British officials have been in direct contact with the rebels, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
"This will help us to understand better the situation in Syria and the relationship between political and armed opposition groups so we can properly support political transition," he said in a statement Wednesday.
Hague said that officials from his office "will make every effort" to ensure they are engaging only with legitimate members of the opposition and that any contact will take place outside Syria.
CNN has reported that various jihadi elements, some with connection to al-Qaeda, are operating inside Syria.
The news comes a day after British Prime Minister David Cameron broached the idea of giving al-Assad "safe passage" if that's what it takes to stop the bloodshed in Syria.
"Anything, anything, to get that man out of the country and to have a safe transition in Syria," Cameron told Al-Arabiya TV. "Of course I would favor him facing the full force of international law and justice for what he's done. I am certainly not offering him an exit plan to Britain, but if he wants to leave, he could leave; that could be arranged," he said.
Britain has provided millions of dollars in nonlethal practical assistance to the Syrian rebels, such as communications equipment and help for refugees.
CNN's Raja Razek, Jo Shelley and Saad Abedine contributed to this report.
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Syrian rebels leave their position in the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan on Thursday, June 13. The White House said that the Syrian government has crossed a "red line" with its use of chemical weapons and announced it would start arming the rebels.
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Syrian rebels take position in a house during clashes with regime forces in the old city of Aleppo on May 22.
Syrian army soldiers take control of the village of Western Dumayna north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr on Monday, May 13. Syrian troops captured three villages in Homs province, allowing them to cut supply lines to rebels inside Qusayr town, a military officer told AFP.
Rebel fighters fire at government forces in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, May 12.
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A Kurdish fighter from the "Popular Protection Units" (YPG) takes position inside a building in the majority-Kurdish Sheikh Maqsood area of Aleppo, on Apri. 21.
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Syrian and Kurdish rebel fighters walk in the Sheikh Maqsud district of Aleppo on April 14.
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A rebel runs to avoid sniper fire from Syrian government forces in Aleppo on Thursday, April 11.
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A Free Syrian fighter mourns the death of a friend in Aleppo on March 30, in this photo taken by iReporter Lee Harper.
A Syrian opposition fighter runs for cover from Syrian army snipers in Aleppo on Wednesday, March 27.
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Syrian rebels take position in Aleppo, the largest city in the country, on March 11.
Syrian men search for their relatives amongst the bodies of civilians executed and dumped in the Quweiq River on March 11.
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Residents read Shaam News newspapers published by the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo on March 2.
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A rebel fighter throws a home-made grenade at Syrian government forces in Aleppo on February 16.
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Free Syrian Army fighters walk through a dust-filled stairwell in Damascus on February 7.
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A rebel fighter throws a hand grenade inside a Syrian Army base in Damascus on February 3.
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Free Syrian Army fighters run as they enter a Syrian Army base during heavy fighting in the Arabeen neighborhood of Damascus on February 3.
An unexploded mortar shell fired by the Syrian Army sits lodged in the ground in Damascus on January 25.
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A father reacts after hearing of a shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo on January 3.
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Syrians mourn a fallen rebel fighter at a rebel base in the al-Fardos area of Aleppo on December 8.
Members of Liwa (Brigade) Salahadin, a Kurdish military unit fighting alongside rebel fighters, monitor the area in the besieged district of Karmel al-Jabl in Aleppo on December 6.
A member of Liwa Salahadin aims at a regime fighter in the besieged district of Karmel al-Jabl in Aleppo on December 6.
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Damaged houses in Aleppo are seen after an airstrike on November 29.
A Syrian rebel mourns the death of a comrade in Maraat al-Numan on November 20.
Syrians protesters stand on Assad's portrait during an anti-regime demonstration in Aleppo on November 16.
A Syrian rebel takes cover during fighting against Syrian government forces in Aleppo on November 15.
Syrian opposition fighter Bazel Araj, 19, sleeps next to his pistol in Aleppo on November 11.
A rebel fighter fires at a Syrian government position in Aleppo on November 6.
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Rebels hold their position in the midst of a battle on November 3 in Aleppo.
A man cries while being treated in a local hospital in a rebel-controlled area of Aleppo on October 31.
A man is treated for wounds after a government jet attacked the Karm al-Aser neighborhood in eastern Aleppo on October 31.
A Syrian rebel interrogates a handcuffed and blindfolded man suspected of being a pro-regime militiaman in Aleppo on October 26.
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A Syrian rebel fires at an army position in the Karm al-Jabal district of Aleppo on October 22.
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Syrian army soldiers run for cover during clashes with rebel fighters at Karam al-Jabal neighborhood of Aleppo on October 20.
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A Syrian opposition fighter stands near a post in Aleppo on October 11.
A Syrian man mourns the death of his father, who was killed during a government attack in Aleppo on October 10.
A rebel fighter is carried by his friends and laid on a gurney to be treated for gunshot wounds sustained during heavy battles with government forces in Aleppo on October 1.
Syrian rebels help a wounded comrade to an Aleppo hospital after he was injured in a Syrian army strike on September 18.
Free Syria Army fighters are reflected in a mirror they use to see a Syrian Army post only 50 meters away in Aleppo on September 16.
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A woman walks past a destroyed building in Aleppo on September 13.
Free Syrian Army fighters battle during street fighting against Syrian army soldiers in Aleppo on September 8.
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Members of the Free Syrian Army clash with Syrian army soliders in Aleppo's Saif al-Dawla district on August 22.
A man mourns in front of a field hospital on August 21 in Aleppo.
Wounded civilians wait in a field hospital after an air strike on August 21 in Aleppo.
People pray during the funeral of a Free Syrian Army fighter, Amar Ali Amero, on August 21.
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Syrian rebels hunt for snipers after attacking the municipality building in the city center of Selehattin on July 23.
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Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr on May 10.
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A young boy plays with a toy gun in Binnish on April 9.
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Syrian refugees walk across a field before crossing into Turkey on March 14.
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Members of the Free Syrian Army stand in an valley near the village of Ain al-Baida, close to the Turkish border, on December 15, 2011.
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A Syrian man holds up a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad during a rally to show support for the president in Damascus on April 30, 2011.
Syrians rally to show their support for President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on April 30, 2011.
A screen grab from YouTube shows thick smoke rising above as Syrian anti-government protesters demonstrate in Moaret Al-Noman on April 29, 2011.
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Syrians wave their national flag and hold portraits of al-Assad during a rally to show their support for their leader in Damascus on March 29, 2011.
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Syrian protesters chant slogans in support of al-Assad during a rally in Damascus on March 25, 2011.
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