Syria rebels say Western strikes ‘farce’ as long as Assad stays

Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) – A prominent Syrian rebel faction said on Saturday that Western strikes against government positions were a “farce” as long as President Bashar al-Assad remained in power. 

“Punishing the instrument of the crime while keeping the criminal — a farce,” wrote Mohammad Alloush, a key member of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group.

Jaish al-Islam was in control of the town of Douma, the site of the alleged chemical attack that prompted Western military action.