MESOP : KURDS & ARABS WELCOME THE AIRSTRIKES OF THE COALITION – Syrian opposition welcomes anti-ISIL operations, demands hitting Assad locations

ARA News – 24-9-2014 – Istanbul, Turkey – The Syrian National Coalition for Revolutionary Forces and the Opposition (SNC) welcomed the anti-IS strikes launched by the international coalition forces on targets belonging to the Islamic State (IS/ISIS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, and al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda branch in Syria.In an official statement, the SNC described the U.S.-led air strikes as helpful for the armed opposition which fights against the regime of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Munzer Aqbik, the Special Envoy of the President of the SNC, said that these strikes will strengthen the opposition in its fight against the Syrian regime, adding that the campaign should continue until the eradication of the Islamic State group. Aqbik said that the SNC will help the Syrian people against ‘terrorism’ and expressed hope in the liberation of the Syrian land and the accomplishment of democracy aspired by Syrians.

On the other hand, Colonel Hassan al-Hammadi, a leading member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said that the Syrian regime intends to seize the opportunity to increase the number of civilians killed and then blame the international coalition forces for the deaths. Hammadi called on the anti-IS international coalition to coordinate with the Syrian opposition forces in an attempt to avoid killing civilians during strikes carried out by coalition warplanes, and to allow opposition fighters to secure the areas vacated by IS extremists. Hammadi expressed his fear of the Syrian regime exploiting the vacuum left by IS group following the withdrawal from some areas targeted by the international air strikes. The leaders of the Syrian opposition have repeatedly demanded that the Western allies arm the moderate rebels who face IS and other extremists in Syria. Syrian opposition also called on the U.S.-led coalition to launch strikes on sensitive bases and command centers of the Syrian regime.