Airstrikes Against ISIS Positions Inside Syria

Press Release

Syrian Coalition

September 23, 2014

Today, the US led coalition launched the first airstrikes against the extremist group ISIS inside Syria, targeting its militants in Raqqa. Allowing the brutal group grow and spread was not an option. However, to achieve sustainable peace stability across the region, combating ISIS should only take place in tandem with restraining Assad and ultimately removing his despotic regime.

As airstrikes began against ISIS targets in Syria, Hadi al Bahra, President of the Syrian Coalition said: “Tonight, the international community has joined our fight against ISIS in Syria. We have called for airstrikes such as those that commenced tonight with a heavy heart and deep concern, as these strikes begin in our own homeland. We insist that utmost care is taken to avoid civilian casualties.”

In the wake of the Syrian uprising, and alongside a campaign of destruction and mass murder, Assad fostered chaos as a state policy to instill fear and uncertainty in the hearts of the Syrian people, thus providing a breeding ground for extremism and terrorism. Assad is the main catalyst for extremism, and if we ever hope to eliminate the threat of extremist ideology, Assad must go.

Another fundamental factor in the prevention of the growth and resurgence of extremism in Syria is good governance. The Syrian Coalition stands ready to work with our allies to ensure the establishment of moderate governance on Syrian territories, as well as to ensure the campaign against ISIS achieves maximum effect on the ground, including through training and equipping a reliable force that can deliver on the front lines.