Syrian opposition group leader blames US-led airstrikes against IS for weakening anti-Assad forces

A leader of Syria's main western-backed opposition group has reportedly termed the United States-led coalition attacks on the Islamic State (IS) a "product of a confused policy that is turning a blind eye" towards the crimes committed by Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

Hadi al-Bahra, president of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), said on Monday that the air strikes conducted by the U.S. against the IS has weakened support for the already embattled anti-Assad forces within Syria, reported The Guardian.

Alleging that the coalition is turning a blind towards Assad's air forces which is using barrel bombs and rockets against civilians in Aleppo and elsewhere, Bahra said that they are "fighting the symptom of the problem without addressing the main cause, which is the regime."

He also remarked that air strikes alone will not win the battle against extremism and added that the main cause and source of extremism must be addressed too.