Opposition Urges US to Establish No-Fly Zone over Syria

Fighting between regime forces and Syrian rebels in Damascus. Photo by Syrian TV/RIA Novosti

The Syrian Support Group has called upon the United States to establish a no-fly zone over Syria for the first time since the 18-month-old uprising to immediately.

The group, which represents the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Washington, claims that Syria's ruling authorities intensified use of air strikes to attack cities held by rebels.

"This is right now the time for a no-fly zone to take place. We need to stop the fixed-wing and helicopters from attacking," said Louay Sakka, co-founder of the Syrian Support Group (SSG), in an interview with The Cable.

Sakka pointed out that the Syrian regime cannot hold ground without air power or heavy artillery.

"Things have changed in many ways. The fighter jets cannot attack only the FSA; they have random targeting and that means a lot casualties: children, women, older people, people who have nothing to do with the fight, and they are dying in huge numbers."

Since it began with anti- president Bashar al-Assad regime demonstrations in March 2011, the Syrian conflict has escalated into a full-scale civil war that has claimed up to 20,000 lives, according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups.

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