Bombing Syria No Solution

Socialist Alliance condemns the unilateral use of force by US President Donald Trump against Syria on April 7.

The pretext for Trump's missile attack was a deadly chemical attack on civilians, which the US has blamed on the Assad regime, rather than await the outcome of an investigation into who was responsible.

Multiple Tomahawk cruise missile attacks were carried out on a Syrian airfield from where it is alleged that the chemical weapon attack was launched against the people of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib Province.

A similar call to bomb Syria in retaliation for the chemical attack was made a day earlier by former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, in New York.

Socialist Alliance opposes PM Malcolm Turnbull and ALP leader Bill Shorten for the statements they have made in support of Trump’s action.

Socialist Alliance opposed the deployment of Australian forces to Syria in 2014 and continues to call for the withdrawal of the US-led coalition forces.

The conflict in Syria, which has been raging for the last 6 years, has been shaped from the start by outside forces and interests. What began as a pro-democracy rebellion against the Assad dictatorship has become a complex, multi party conflict, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of thousands more.

We condemn this unilateral action by the US, which is plainly designed to allow Trump to portray himself as the new "Sheriff on the block" in the Middle East, as part of his "make America great again" agenda.

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Previous Socialist Alliance statements on the conflict in Syria:

December 2016: Peace in Syria can only come from the democratic empowerment of Syrians

September 2014: No Australian military involvement in Iraq & Syria

August 2013: Stop the US-led war on Syria!

June 2012: No imperialist military intervention in Syria!

February 2012: Syria needs solidarity not Western intervention!