The United States on Tuesday expanded its battle against the Islamic State by launching for the first time waves of air strikes inside Syria, targeting the militant outfit’s strongholds. At least 58 people were killed on Tuesday, including 50 jehadis.
“last night, on my orders, America’s armed forces began strikes against ISIl targets in Syria,” President Barack Obama said on Tuesday, declaring: “We’re going to do what is necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group.”
In what was termed a military offensive by the US and five Arab allies, a mix of fighter planes, bombers, remotely piloted aircraft and Tomahawk missiles reportedly inflicted heavy destruction or damage of ISIS targets in Raqqa and near Syria’s border with Iraq.
The “partner nations” to join the offensive include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar, all Sunni-majority nations that have joined the US-led coalition against the extreme Sunni militancy represented by ISIS. The US operation focused on ISIS fighter positions, training compounds, command centres and armed vehicles. Besides Raqqa, the strikes also hit targets in the provinces of Deir al-Zour and Hasaka, whose oil wells have been exploited by ISIS.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said that fighter planes, bombers, drones and cruise missiles struck 14 targets linked to ISIS, adding: “All aircraft safely exited the strike areas.”
Centcom said about 50 cruise missiles were launched from two American vessels in the Red Sea and the north of the Persian Gulf. Four other attacks were launched on militant targets in Iraq as well, bringing the total there to 194 attacks.
Delivering a statement before leaving for New York for the UN General Assembly session, where this latest US-led war is expected to come for close scrutiny, Obama sought to highlight America’s effort to build a global coalition against the Islamic State, with more than 40 countries already enlisted in the effort. Commending the five Arab nations that have joined the military offensive, Obama said: “America is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations on behalf of our common security.”
The precise contribution that the Arab allies are making to the battle against ISIS has not been spelled out by the White House or the Pentagon.A Pentagon spokesman said it would be left to the “partner nations” to convey details of their respective roles.In addition to ISIS resources, the US planes also struck targets of Khorasan, another militant group with Al Qaeda links that was also using Syrian territory as a safe haven to plot attacks against America.
Recalling the strategy that he outlined earlier this month to confront ISIS militants by taking action against targets in both Iraq and Syria so that these terrorists can’t find safe haven anywhere, Obama said: “I also made clear that America would act as part of a broad coalition. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.”