U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time

[bsnub]

American jets began bombing ISIS targets in Syria early Tuesday, raising U.S. involvement in the war-torn country and sending a forceful message to the terror group.
The airstrikes focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a U.S. official told CNN, though other locations were hit as well.
At least 20 targets in an around Raqqa were hit, the opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
They're the first strikes against the terror group inside the country since President Barack Obama's announcement this month that he was prepared to expand the American efforts beyond targets in Iraq.
All foreign partners participating in the strikes with the United States are Arab countries, a senior U.S. military official told CNN. Those nations are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Diplomatic sources told CNN that Qatar was also involved, though it was not clear whether Qatar actually conducted airstrikes itself.

U.S. ready to strike ISIS in Syria

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.

Western allies reject ISIS leader's threats

Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea initiated the strike, followed by bombers and fighters, a senior U.S. military official told CNN.
The goal with this first move is to have an initial, definitive blow, the official said, describing the pace of the operation as intense.
Most of the spots hit were hard targets such as buildings, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

A post office, a recruitment center and a building in the governor's compound were among the structures in Raqqa hit by U.S. airstrikes, Syrian opposition activists said.
There was no immediate word about casualties, the activists said.
Power went out in the city shortly after the airstrikes but was restored later Tuesday morning.

A 'punch in the nose'

Until now, ISIS has been able to take over cities and operate in Syria with near impunity. Now, it's coming under attack.
"This is the punch in the nose to the bully that we talked about on the playground," former Delta Force officer James Reese said. "ISIS is the bully, and we just punched him in the nose."

With the airstrikes, the United States enters a new level of engagement in the ongoing Syrian civil war. Obama had resisted U.S. military action in Syria, but as the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq made sweeping advances in both Middle Eastern neighbors, calls for such a step grew.

"I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are," Obama said in a September 10 speech. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven."
The message of the speech was clear -- it was a matter of when, not if -- the United States would carry out airstrikes inside Syria.

A U.S. intelligence official said that while law enforcement is aware the airstrikes against ISIS in Syria could incite a response, there is no evidence to suggest any terrorist strike is in the works against the United States.

Last week, U.S. officials told CNN that the military had everything in place it needed to strike ISIS inside Syria and was awaiting Obama's go-ahead to do so.
For weeks, intelligence and military targeting specialists have been working around the clock on a list of targets, the officials said. It is unlikely that the President reviewed all the targets individuall, but was presented broad guidance with analysis about the risks of bombing inside Syria, as well as the rewards in terms of attacking ISIS.
Al Qaeda's new Syrian franchise has a mission: Attack the West
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee last week that he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey signed off on plans to strike ISIS in Syria.

"CENTCOM's plan includes targeted actions against ISIL safe havens in Syria -- including its command and control, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure," Hagel said last week. "Our actions will not be restrained by a border that exists in name only."

U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS targets inside Syria - CNN.com

[harrybarracuda]

I wonder how many westerners they will behead today?

[buriramboy]

I wonder how many westerners they will behead today?

I wouldn't take any bets on the English guy they are still holding being alive at the end of the day, life expectancy for the French dude captured in Algeria probably can be counted in hours too.

[Neverna]

Hagel said last week. "Our actions will not be restrained by a border that exists in name only."

Isn't that the same kind of thinking as IS?

[pseudolus]

It is strange that people are buying all this ISIS bullshit.

[VocalNeal]

Academics in Oxford held an emergency meeting yesterday to decide whether of not to rename the river to avoid undue attention from the US.

[beazalbob69]

It is strange that people are buying all this ISIS bullshit.

Might as well have called it C.O.B.R.A. ffs. Some ultimate evil Nemesis of the west. Where is the evil masked genius that controls the whole shabang?

Too many current events play out like a shitty action movie nowadays. Hard to believe most of it.

[harrybarracuda]

It is strange that people are buying all this ISIS bullshit.

What ISIS bullshit?

[harrybarracuda]

As if working in Saudi wasn't shit enough....

BEIRUT: An Islamic State fighter said on Tuesday the group will respond to US-led air strikes inside Syria and blamed Saudi Arabia for allowing them to happen.

"These attacks will be answered. The sons of Saloul are the ones who are to be blamed. It happened because of them," he told Reuters, using a derogatory term for Saudi Arabia's royal Saudi family.


Read more at:
US attack on Islamic State targets in Syria "will be answered": Fighter - The Economic Times

[Albert Shagnastier]

It is strange that people are buying all this ISIS bullshit.

Not strange at all mate. Huge number of spastics on this board swallow every red-herring they're tossed

[pseudolus]

Merkins support rebels in Syria with money and weapons.

Rebels in Syria hand money and weapons to their friends in so called ISIS along with westerners to behead.

Al Qaieda (as if that ever excisted) release a press statement saying they are upset with so called ISIS for cutting peoples heads off.

Merkins get to bomb Syria which is what they wanted to do all along.

A tad convenient, no?

[bsnub]

Rebels in Syria hand money and weapons to their friends in so called ISIS along with westerners to behead.

It really is that simple isn't it?

Al Qaieda (as if that ever excisted) release a press statement saying they are upset with so called ISIS for cutting peoples heads off.

Oh that's right it all becomes more clear your are one of those tinfoil 9/11 nutters..

Merkins get to bomb Syria which is what they wanted to do all along.

You really have no clue what you are talking about here. If the neocons want to bomb something they will. They don't need ISIS to do it.

A tad convenient, no?

In your addled brain perhaps...

[harrybarracuda]

Rebels in Syria hand money and weapons to their friends in so called ISIS along with westerners to behead.

It really is that simple isn't it?

No, but it's actually not a bad summation.

[bsnub]

^ Umm yes it is because the US has not yet provided the FSA with weapons and that is why the government and ISIS have been kicking the shit out of them. They are the ones who are being squeezed here. If there is any duplicity it is between the Syrian government and ISIS.

[pseudolus]

Keep waiving that flag Snubby and believing the lies. Each point I have listed has been admitted by the US state department except for their joy in getting to bomb syria. The reason they need ISIS is because they had no backing from the usual chumps to bomb syria. Now they do.

[bsnub]

Keep waiving that flag Snubby and believing the lies.

Trust me it is not me who is buying into the poppycock here. I as you well know am no blind backer of the corporapist government of the US.

The reason they need ISIS is because they had no backing from the usual chumps to bomb syria. Now they do.

America needs no outside backing to do anything. It acts on its own interests and furthermore any past, present or future coalition is purely symbolic and completely unneeded. I can assure you that if there was a repubtard in the oval office that America would have been bombing the shit out of Syria for the last year or more.

Once again you have no clue how US politics work.

[pseudolus]

But you are wrong Snubby - they do not like to act alone and always try to get popular support on their side before their start killing civilians. Of course they act by themselves but always with the charade of being part of a coalition. There was no appetite for a coalition until ISIS started lopping heads off, mostly off of people handed to ISIS by the American partners in Syria, and free syrian army, for 50,000 USD which I believe the going rate is.

[harrybarracuda]

^ Umm yes it is because the US has not yet provided the FSA with weapons and that is why the government and ISIS have been kicking the shit out of them. They are the ones who are being squeezed here. If there is any duplicity it is between the Syrian government and ISIS.

You don't think any of the boatloads of shit they sell Saudi Arabia went to Syria without their knowledge or consent then?

I have a bridge to sell you.

The Pentagon notified Congress on Dec. 5, 2013, of a sale of 15,000 Raytheon anti-tank missiles to Saudi Arabia worth $900 million. Although the notification said the sale was for Saudi defense, the kingdom has no known land threats. This raised speculation that the weapons were going to Syrian rebels.

[thaimeme]

It is strange that people are buying all this ISIS bullshit.

Oh, on the contrary, Sid...
Not strange whatsoever the wholesale promotion and propaganda.
And those broader class of every type that buy into it.

Expected, actually.

Any boogieman will do.
Perpetual cycle.