Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of Syria’s Western-backed opposition group is calling for immediate U.S. airstrikes targeting the Islamic State group in Syria.

Speaking at a press conference at the United Nations, Hadi Bahra says every day that passes without airstrikes in Syria allows the group the opportunity to grow.

President Barack Obama has said he will not hesitate to strike the extremist group in Syria, but so far has only ordered attacks in Iraq. The group holds roughly one third of each of the neighboring countries.

An offensive by the Islamic State militants against Kurdish areas near the Syrian frontier with Turkey this week sent 130,000 refugees fleeing across the border.

Bahra, who heads the Syrian National Coalition, urged more urgent action Monday to avert catastrophe.

Since 1846, The Associated Press has been breaking news and covering the world's biggest stories, always committed to the highest standards of accurate, unbiased journalism. The Associated Press was founded as an independent news cooperative, whose members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters, steadfast in our mission to inform the world.