Syrian Canadians express mixed reactions to U.S.-led airstrikes
MONTREAL — Syrian Canadians expressed a range of reactions to the recent U.S.-led airstrikes against Syria’s government, with some denouncing foreign aggression and others calling for even stronger action to end the conflict that has devastated the country.
Toronto resident Bayan Khatib was at a community fundraiser with other Syrian Canadians on Friday night when she learned the U.S., Britain and France had launched the joint airstrikes in retaliation for a suspected chemical-weapons attack on April 7 that killed 43 people and injured hundreds more in a rebel-held enclave near Damascus.
She said most of the Syrians in the room felt a mixture of optimism and worry.
“Many were excited there is finally something happening, that the (Syrian President Bashar) Assad regime will see some consequences, but other people were quite worried about civilian casualties, further destruction of Syria,” Khatib said.