How is this an escalation? The goverment has been doing its best to kill the rebels for months now.

Forces loyal to the Syrian government have fired "Scud-type missiles" at rebels, media have quoted US officials as saying.
A number of short-range, unguided ballistic missiles had been launched, US and Nato officials said.
The US state department would not confirm the type but said missiles had been deployed. It said Syria was resorting to "more vicious weapons".
Separately, a series of blasts has hit the Syrian capital Damascus.
'Napalm-like bomb'
A US official quoted by Reuters and Associated Press confirmed the use of Scud-type missiles.
AP quoted the official as saying that more than half a dozen missiles were fired from the Damascus area into northern Syria. There was no indication any chemical weapons had been used, the official said.
The Syrian regime isn’t using its chemical arsenal on its opposition, at least not yet. But it’s starting to look like Bashar Assad is throwing everything else he has against the rebels from Scud missiles to incendiary weapons. He’s even chucking naval mines onto dry land to attack his foes.