U.S. Begins Airstrikes In Syria, Pentagon Says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and five Arab countries launched airstrikes Monday night on Islamic State group targets in Syria, expanding a military campaign into a country whose three-year civil war has given the brutal militant group a safe haven.
Using a mix of manned aircraft — fighter jets and bombers — plus Tomahawk cruise missiles, the strikes were part of the expanded military campaign that President Barack Obama authorized nearly two weeks ago in order to disrupt and destroy the Islamic State militants, who have slaughtered thousands of people, beheaded Westerners — including two American journalists — and captured large swaths of Syria and northern and western Iraq.

U.S. officials said the airstrikes began around 8:30 p.m. EDT, and were conducted by the U.S., Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The first wave of strikes finished about 90 minutes later, but the operation was expected to continue for several more hours, according to one U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly by name about an ongoing mission.

• Because the military operation was ongoing, no details could be provided yet, said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary. He said the military made the decision to strike early Monday. A White House official said Obama was being updated.

The strikes were carried out by manned Air Force and Navy aircraft, and the Tomahawk missiles were launched from U.S. ships in the northern Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is in the Gulf.
Some of the airstrikes were against Islamic State group headquarters in Raqqa in eastern Syria. Military officials have said the U.S. would target militants' command and control centers, re-supply facilities, training camps and other key logistical sites.

• "We will be prepared to strike ISIL targets in Syria that degrade ISIL's capabilities," Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told senators last week, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State group. "This won't look like a shock-and-awe campaign, because that's simply not how ISIL is organized, but it will be a persistent and sustainable campaign.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the plan "includes targeted actions against ISIL safe havens in Syria, including its command and control logistics capabilities and infrastructure." He said he and Dempsey approved the plan.................AP............http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/22/syria-airstrikes_n_5865344.html
22/9/14
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Related:

• Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets...

• U.S. too late on Syria, ex-Pentagon chief warns. --(Hillary Clinton had urged Obama in 2012 to arm moderate Syrian rebels)

• More countries to launch air strikes in Syria, US says

• Lavrov urges to respect Syria’s sovereignty in struggle against Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)

• Syria warns against foreign intervention after Obama speech on ISIS/ISIL.- (Germany, UK say won't take part)

• Russia warns US against strikes on Islamic State in Syria...

• Syria reiterates need for its consent in foreign actions on IS insdie Syria ...

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• Hillary Clinton: I wanted to arm Syrian rebels, but Obama refused (“Hard Choices”)

• Le Représentant permanent américain à l'ONU a expliqué le but d'armement de l'opposition syrienne

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