Ironically, NATO’s subsequent "protection of civilians" flattened several cities across the country , slaying thousands of civilians. Syria’s Violence in Context The Syrian military cannot, however, rule out the use of airstrikes considering the overt manner in which foreign interests such as the US, Israel , and the Gulf States are increasingly sending heavily armed militants over their borders to destabilize their nation. It must be taken into consideration that FSA militants have been conducting indiscriminate bombings across Syria for months now, and with their latest assassinations and offensive, have shed the ability to play to role of "victim-civilians." Image : The West’s "lightly armed" FSA.