M A I N   N E W S

special to the tribune
US, Arab allies bomb IS terror targets in Syria
Ashish Kumar Sen in Washington DC

The US and five Arab allies began bombing the Islamic State inside Syria for the first time early on Tuesday, significantly expanding the war being waged against the terrorists in neighbouring Iraq.

US President Barack Obama, acknowledging the airstrikes, said the US and its allies would do “what’s necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group, for the security of the country and the region and for the entire world.” Obama has ruled out deploying US combat troops to take part in a ground war against the IS, but he wants to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels to do the job instead. Last week, the US Congress approved the President’s plan.

Amid skepticism about the ability of airstrikes alone to destroy IS, Obama said the “overall effort will take time” and acknowledged that there will be “challenges ahead.”

Obama spoke at the White House before departing for New York where he will urge the United Nations to take steps to prevent foreign fighters from enlisting with terrorist groups fighting in Syria. The strikes destroyed or damaged multiple IS targets in the provinces of Ar-Raqqa, Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and the eastern Syrian city of Abu Kamal. The targets included IS fighters, training camps, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance centre, supply trucks and armoured vehicles, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

A mix of fighters, bombers, drones and Tomahawk land attack missiles were used to conduct 14 strikes against IS targets. The US fired 47 Tomahawk land attack missiles from two US navy ships.

Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also participated in or supported the airstrikes, CENTCOM said. “All aircraft safely exited the strike areas,” it added.

The participation of Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, is significant as US officials are determined not to have operations against the IS be portrayed as a Western war against Muslims. 

Training camps, command facilities destroyed

The strikes destroyed or damaged multiple IS targets in the provinces of Ar-Raqqa, Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah and the eastern Syrian city of Abu Kamal

The targets included IS fighters, training camps, headquarters and command and control facilities, supply trucks and armoured vehicles

A mix of fighters, bombers, drones and Tomahawk land attack missiles were used to conduct 14 strikes against IS targets

All aircraft safely exited the strike areas, US central command said