North Jersey Syrians want Assad brought to justice

Minutes after they heard that the United States launched dozens of missiles in Syria, North Jersey Syrian-Americans on Thursday expressed hope that the airstrikes would continue and lead to the end of President Bashar Assad’s regime.

“We would love to see this massacre end, somehow, some way,’’ said Samir Alkadouni, an activist who lives in Elmwood Park. “His regime keeps killing people for no reason. I hope they keep going and bring Assad to justice.”

The U.S. launched 59 cruise missiles at the Syrian government airfield where the planes that carried out a chemical attacks earlier this week were based, according to U.S. officials. The chemical attack killed more than 80 people, including many children.

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As the news of the missile launch could be heard from a television in the background, Alkadouni, who moved from Syria 17 years ago,  said in a telephone interview that he was surprised how quickly the U.S. responded but was glad. He said he had been disappointed with the Obama administration for not doing enough to stop the Syrian president. In 2013, an agreement was reached that called for Assad to get rid of all his chemical weapons or face a military attack.

“Someone committed a crime, and at the end of the day they take a portion of the weapons out of his hands but they allowed him to kill more people with other weapons,’’ he said.

But Mark Souda, a business owner in Paterson, said Trump acted too fast without evidence of who was behind the chemical attacks.

"An investigation it’s not even start yet, what kind of evidence do you have in your hands to go to bomb Syria,’’ he said. “Get evidence in your hand and the whole world will be with you, we will support you.”

Muhamad Hasani of Clifton, who came to the United States in 2012 after spending several stints in jail for his activism in his homeland, said the airstrike at a Syrian government airbase was a good start, but that the military needs to continue until Assad is in custody for the deaths of so many.

“What happened today is too little and too late, and it has to continue,’’ he said. “You can’t cut the tail off the snake and leave the head. Assad has to be in jail and has to go to criminal court.”

Mohamed Jello, a restaurant owner, said that Assad has killed a lot of innocent people, and it took the United States and others around the world a long time to help. 
“I’m sorry for the people in this country and all over the world,’’ he said. “We need somebody to stand by us, to stop the violence, and to stop the war.”

Dr. Fehmi Khairullah of Hawthorne questioned the military’s action and its true aim, saying that sending cruise missiles to an airport he described as small didn’t make sense.

“It’s not the main airbase,’’ he said. “When I hear 50 to 60 missiles on a small target I’m wondering: What is he doing?"

“This money is coming out of the pockets of taxpayers, and we should not cheat the American people,’’ he said. “We are not accomplishing the mission. The criminal has to be captured.”

A Pentagon spokesman said Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike, and Khairullah said he wondered whether the Russians warned the Syrian army of what was coming.

Khairullah expressed doubt that the United States will continue with the military strikes.

“I’ll wait to see what the next step is going to be," he said. "But I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not expecting more than these fireworks.”

Photographer Chris Pedota contributed to this article.