US began bombing targets inside Syria on Monday—-
The US along with Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia reportedly flew missions into Syria.
These are Sunni nations.
20-25 targets tonight.
Suspected targets were expected to include command and control centers, training camps and weapons depots.
ABC has more on the strikes:
“I can confirm that U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL [ISIS] terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles,” Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said. “Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time. The decision to conduct theses strikes was made earlier today by the U.S. Central Command commander under authorization granted him by the commander in chief. We will provide more details later as operationally appropriate.”
FOX News reported on the strikes:
The New York Times reported:
American fighter jets and armed Predator and Reaper drones, flying alongside warplanes from several Arab allies, struck a broad array of targets in territory controlled by the militants, known as the Islamic State. American defense officials said the targets included weapons supplies, depots, barracks and buildings the militants use for command and control. Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from United States Navy ships in the region…
…Unlike American strikes in Iraq over the past month, which have been small-bore bombings of mostly individual Islamic State targets — patrol boats and trucks — the salvo on Tuesday in Syria was the beginning of what was expected to be a sustained, hourslong bombardment at targets in the militant headquarters in Raqqa and on the border.
The strikes began after years of debate within the Obama administration about whether the United States should intervene militarily or should avoid another entanglement in a complex war in the Middle East. But the Islamic State controls a broad swath of land across both Iraq and Syria.
CNN posted a map of the strikes:
Four US missiles fall on Kafrdayan near Sarmada #Idlib – Activists
#Breaking: 4 US missiles fall on Kafrdayan near Sarmada #Idlib – Activists pic.twitter.com/hk80r0rwqC
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) September 23, 2014
ISIS flees to the hills…
#Breaking: #IS instructs its fighters to leave its #HQs in ar-Raqqah to the rural areas – Activists #Syria
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) September 23, 2014
UPDATE: Al-Raqqah governor’s palace destroyed.
