Syrian Coalition Calls for Neutralizing Assad’s Air Force

Press Statement

Hadi al Bahra

Member of Syrian Coalition Political Committee

March 24, 2014

The Syrian Coalition calls on the international community to neutralize the Assad regime’s air force and put an end to aerial bombardment of civilian areas. Assad’s warplanes and helicopters continue to drop cluster bombs, nail bombs, and barrel bombs on innocent civilians across Syria.

Yesterday, a warplane belonging to the Assad regime was shot down by the Turkish armed forces, after crossing Turkey’s air space. The warplane was on a mission to shell innocent civilians on Syrian territory. The Turkish government has repeatedly warned the Assad regime against violating its air space, and it had a right to protect its sovereignty.

The Assad regime continues to use conventional and unconventional weapons to kill the Syrian people, including aerial bombardment. Hundreds of thousands of lives have already been lost or destroyed. The Assad regime must be removed in order to protect civilians at risk of meeting the same fate and to ensure that the Syrian people achieve the freedom they deserve.