MIAMI – A South Florida imam who is of Syrian decent said he hopes the U.S. will be able to help the Syrian people after a chemical attack killed 86 people.
Dr. Abdul Hamid Samra led a prayer service Friday at the Mosque of Greater Miami.
The imam is of Syrian decent, but has lived in the U.S. for decades, although he still has family in Syria.
He said it's hard to watch the images of the chemical attack that killed 86 men, women and children and injured more than 500 others.
"It's very disturbing for us to see, you know, innocent people (who) are being killed, especially women and children," Samra said.
Samra pointed out that the country has been in crisis for the last several years.
"This has been happening (for) over six years now," Samra said. "Yes, this time the killing is through chemical gas, but what's the difference between killing with gas and bombing and people destroyed and killed in their own homes?"
Samra said he prays that the U.S. can help the Syrian people, but is not sure whether dropping 59 Tomahawk missiles on a Syrian government air base is the answer.
"I'm kind of doubtful and uncertain of the impact, but I hope that, you know, the president and the U.S. administration have a serious plan to end the war in Syria," Samra said.