Syrian opposition calls strikes a 'farce'

The Syrian opposition has criticised the strikes overnight a "farce" as long as President Bashar al-Assad stays in power and said the strikes did not go far enough.

"Punishing the instrument of the crime while keeping the criminal - a farce," wrote Mohammad Alloush, a key member of Jaish al-Islam, the rebel group that was in control of Douma at the time of the alleged chemical attack that prompted the response from the US and others.

The strikes would not stop Assad from killing civilians with conventional weapons, other opposition groups said.

Nasr al-Hariri, president of the mainstream Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), said Assad would keep using other deadly weapons.

SNC member Hadi al-Bahra said the strikes sent a message to the Syrian regime, but not a strong enough one.

"The rocket attacks today sent one message to Assad: 'You cannot continue to kill Syrian children with chemical weapons, use only conventional weapons' - a shame on humanity," he said.

Many Syrian democrats and human rights activists have welcomed the strikes. However, significant disappointment + anger at the scope showing yet again international actors have prioritised their own goals over the need for immediate and ongoing civilian protection. (1/2)
— The Syria Campaign (@TheSyriaCmpgn) April 14, 2018