Syrian opposition welcomes US strikes on Assad regime

By Mohammed Karabagak & Ayse Aktas

ANKARA

The Free Syrian Army (FSO) welcomed U.S. missile strikes against the government of President Bashar al-Assad early Friday and urged more attacks on regime forces.

Factions of the Syrian revolution "view this strike as a turning point in the fight against impunity and as part of the international war on terrorism,” the group wrote on social media.

”We also consider this strike to be a first step in the right direction towards the international community assuming its moral and legal responsibility to protect Syrian civilians and save them from the genocidal war since 2011," it added.

The FSO said the U.S.’s responsibility remains great and does not end with the military operation.

"This [end of war crimes against civilians] can only be achieved by applying military pressure and political, on the way to putting an end to the suffering of the Syrian people,” it added.

A chemical attack Tuesday in northwestern Syria killed 100 victims and injured approximately 500 others.

In response, the U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles early Friday at a Syrian military air base American officials believe was used to carry out the attack, the Pentagon said.