Syrian refugees support air strike against Syrian regime

SANLIURFA

Syrian refugees support a punitive air strike against Bashar Assad's forces amid the looming prospect of a military intervention. 

Esad Taha, a refugee who currently resides at Akcakale town of Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province, accused Syrian security forces of killing scores of civilians with chemical weapons. Taha told an AA correspondent that they would support an air strike against the Syrian regime, if it was beneficial for the Syrian people. "Of course we will be happy if that air strike will save us from Assad's regime, his army and open a way back to home." 

Abdulfetteh Hosni, who shares the same refugee camp, expressed that they wanted allied powers to bomb military and strategic points in the country. He claimed many soldiers who had been fighting under coercion would leave the army, asserting that the Syrian army would weaken and then they would be able to return to their country.

Another refugee, Mustafa Gazel, supported the air strike on the Syrian regime, saying that security forces loyal to Assad were conducting indiscriminate attacks against civilians. Gazel emphasized that such an intervention would not be that harmful when compared to the strikes committed by Assad's forces.

The United States, Britain and their allies want to punish the Syrian regime for attacking civilians with chemical weapons, killing over 1,000 people last week. As the western members of the Security Council seek a mandate from the council, Russia and China oppose such a move. Experts say that a stalemate might lead an international coalition to strike Syria without the Council's approval.

Turkey opened its border to Syrian refugees who fled the country to save their lives from the Syrian army's brutality. Turkey's nearly two dozen camps are home to about 200,000 refugees, while 300,000 others live in rented accommodations in Turkey. Turkey has spent around $2 billion sheltering refugees.

englishnews@aa.com.tr