U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 23, 2014
The United States, as well as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar (they are not flying jets, however), are now bombing Islamic State targets inside Syria. From CNN, "The U.S. and "partner nation forces" began striking ISIS targets using fighters, bombers and Tomahawk missiles, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said, though he didn't specify a geographic location. Citing the ongoing operations, Kirby said the Pentagon would not provide additional details immediately. But a U.S. military official said the strikes are meant to target the ability of ISIS to command and control, resupply and train."
It is also being reported byNBC and other sources that the United States is using "manned and unmanned air assets, including F-22s, B-1 bombers, F-16s, F-15s and F/A-18s. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is at the ready in the Persian Gulf, and the USS Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer that fires Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs), is in the Red Sea."
This marks the first time F-22's have been used in combat.
Just a few weeks ago, President Obama said that he would target IS in Syria; it appears tonight is the night. This also comes after a video was posted a few weeks ago showing a US drone over Raqqa. It appears that this drone was probably running an ISR mission for tonight's airstrikes. The video is posted below:
It is also being reported byNBC and other sources that the United States is using "manned and unmanned air assets, including F-22s, B-1 bombers, F-16s, F-15s and F/A-18s. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is at the ready in the Persian Gulf, and the USS Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer that fires Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs), is in the Red Sea."
This marks the first time F-22's have been used in combat.
Just a few weeks ago, President Obama said that he would target IS in Syria; it appears tonight is the night. This also comes after a video was posted a few weeks ago showing a US drone over Raqqa. It appears that this drone was probably running an ISR mission for tonight's airstrikes. The video is posted below:
As Bill Roggio of The Long War Journal has stated, "It is unclear if the US will target the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's official branch in Syria; the Khorasan group, a council of al Qaeda leaders that coordinates the activities of jihadist groups in Syria and has plotted to attack the West; and other jihadist groups in Syria. The Al Nusrah Front and other jihadist groups, which are at odds with the Islamic State, are poised to gain from any setbacks to the rival Islamic State."
-- Caleb