[TheVrist]

The US and allied nations have launched the first air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, the Pentagon has said.

Spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said fighter and bomber jets and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attack.

The strikes were expected as part of President Barack Obama's pledge to "degrade and destroy" IS, which has taken huge swathes of Syria and Iraq.

The US has already undertaken 190 air strikes in Iraq since August.

No additional details
But Monday's action expands the campaign against the militant group over the national border into Syria.

The group has taken control of a vast area between Syria and Iraq, executed captive soldiers, aide workers and journalists, and threatened the mass killing of religious minorities in Iraq.

On Monday, Rear Adm Kirby confirmed "US military and partner nation forces" were undertaking military action in Syria but did not give details.

"Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time," he said in a statement.

The decision to strike in Syria was made by the head of US Central Command Gen Lloyd Austin, Rear Adm Kirby said, "under authorisation granted him by the commander in chief".

The BBC has learned that Arab nations were among those involved in the strikes in Syria.

In a nationally televised speech outlining his strategy against IS earlier this month, Mr Obama said that any group that threatened America would "find no safe haven", including inside Syria.

Mr Obama has said the strikes were within his power as commander in chief but has asked Congress to authorize a separate mission to train and arm Syrian rebels fighting against IS.

Congress voted for that measure last week

[niknik]

190 airstrikes since August. . Makes me wish there was a dancing banana jerking off below to post. During Kosovo allies sometimes did 190 airstrikes a day.

[TheVrist]

To me that is Obama just saying in so many bombs "I'm doing my part in the efforts to abolish terrorism-------------pause---------------NOT!!!!"

[rapeWhistle]

Surely this deserves another Nobel Peace Prize

[ak74]

Never piss the yanks off,, they always get their man

In other news,, the UK still buys qatar liquid gas

[TheVrist]

(CNN) -- The United States and several Arab nations carried out airstrikes against ISIS in Syria early Tuesday, intensifying the campaign against the Islamic militant group.
Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea began the strikes against the Sunni Muslim extremists, followed by bombers and fighters.
Here are answers to key questions about the new phase in the conflict with ISIS.
LIVE BLOG: Latest updates
Which areas were hit?
The bombing has focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a city in northern Syria. ISIS has had control of Raqqa for more than a year, imposing its brutal interpretation of Islamic law on the city's residents.
The extremists have made the city, which sits on the banks of the Euphrates River, the de facto capital of their self-declared "Islamic State" that stretches across large areas of Syria and Iraq.
ISIS targets around other Syrian cities -- Deir Ezzor, Al Hasakah and Abu Kamal -- were also hit in the strikes.
Map: U.S. airstrikes in SyriaMap: U.S. airstrikes in Syria
Strikes target ISIS safe havens in Syria 'There are five Arab nations involved'
What was struck?
The attacks damaged multiple ISIS targets, the U.S. military said, including training compounds, headquarters, storage facilities, supply trucks and armed vehicles.
"Usually the first part of any air campaign are strategic targets -- fixed locations, big buildings, things that you don't need a guy on the ground to laser-designate," said retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona, an Air Force veteran intelligence officer and CNN military analyst.
The Pentagon also said ISIS fighters were hit in the strikes, but didn't specify how many.
In Raqqa, a building in the governor's compound, a post office and a recruitment center were among the sites struck, activists reported.
Why is Raqqa a focus of the initial strikes?
The city is known as a place where ISIS houses training centers, weapons depots and accommodations for fighters. During the Syrian conflict, the group has also seized military bases from the Syrian regime near the city and in the wider Raqqa province.
The targets hit by the airstrikes are intended to hurt ISIS' ability to command and control, resupply and train, a senior U.S. military official told CNN's Jim Sciutto.
ISIS has made Raqqa the flagship for its model of governance, providing food, fuel and security to people struggling to survive after years of civil war. But it also imposed hardline Islamist law there and metes out harsh punishment to those who don't follow orders. Locals started calling the city Tora Bora last year, saying it felt as if the Taliban of Afghanistan had taken over.
Who is taking part in the airstrikes?
All the foreign partners participating in the strikes with the United States are Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar.
Syrians cross into Turkey to flee ISIS Don Lemon : 'Are we at war again?'
Countries taking part in airstrikesCountries taking part in airstrikes
"It's a remarkable diplomatic achievement," said CNN Political Commentator Peter Beinhart. "I don't think it was expected that there would be this much Arab support."
How long will the attacks go on?
For a while.
The first wave of strikes was expected to last into the early hours of Tuesday morning in Syria, CNN's Sciutto reported.
It is aimed at striking a strong initial blow, a senior U.S. official told CNN. The aerial campaign on ISIS targets in Syria is expected to continue beyond Tuesday.
Counterterrorism expert Philip Mudd said Tuesday's attacks were "just the start."
"This is not a definitive blow," said Mudd, who previously worked for the CIA. "When this gets interesting to me as a former practitioner is six months down the road, when a second-tier ISIS commander starts to create some sort of cell to recruit foreigners from Europe or the United States or Canada into Syria, do we still have the will and capability, and the intelligence, to locate that person, or that group of people, and put lead on the target?"
What happens next?
U.S. military officials will be trying to assess the effectiveness of the first night of bombing.
Some analysts have suggested that ISIS had already started dispersing its assets and fighters following President Barack Obama's warning of action in Syria earlier this month.
The response of ISIS fighters to the initial strikes may give military officials clues on what to target next.
"The follow-up to some of these strikes is -- what are their actions now?" said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst. "There is intelligence that flows from the initial strike," he said.
The Arab governments involved in the strikes could also face discontent among their own people.
"Parts of the population do not agree with Sunni going against Sunni," Hertling said.
The United States is also pushing for a binding resolution at the U.N. General Assembly this week that aims to prevent and track the travel of foreign fighters to Syria.
How has ISIS reacted?
There was no immediate confirmed comment from the militant group on the strikes.
ISIS' official Bayan Radio tweeted a photo that it claimed showed damage to a communications tower in Raqqa. CNN wasn't immediately able to independently verify the image.
The militant group has increased security patrols in Raqqa, an opposition activist told CNN.
ISIS has previously linked the U.S. campaign of airstrikes in Iraq to its decision to execute three of its Western hostages -- two Americans and one Briton. It also recently called for attacks against the United States and its allies.
How have Syrian opposition groups reacted?
Hadi al Bahra, the President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, welcomed the strikes.
"Tonight, the international community has joined our fight against ISIS in Syria," he said in a statement. "We have called for airstrikes such as those that commenced tonight with a heavy heart and deep concern, as these strikes begin in our own homeland. We insist that utmost care is taken to avoid civilian casualties."
Did the U.S. consult with the Syrian government beforehand?
A U.S. official says it didn't coordinate nor warn President Bashar al-Assad about the attacks. But the regime claims it was given a heads-up.
"According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the American side informed the Syrian representative to the U.N. yesterday that the U.S. will carry out airstrikes targeting the terrorist organization (ISIS) in Raqqa," said a banner on the website of the Syrian government's official news agency, SANA.
Beinhart said al-Assad's regime may end up as "the real winner" from the airstrikes on ISIS, since the moderate U.S.-backed rebels aren't "in a position to take this territory that we are pulverizing from the air."
Did Obama have the authority to begin the attacks?
The White House argues it doesn't need any new authority; that it's using an existing authorization to combat al Qaeda to expand its airstrike campaign.
But some lawmakers say it's Congress' role, not the President's, to declare war.
They say they were open to holding a vote on military action against ISIS -- but not until after the midterm elections in November.
"It was one thing to attack in Iraq, where you had a government that wanted us to," Beinhart said. "But Congress did not vote for U.S. airstrikes in Syria and we don't have a government requesting us to do that."
What are U.S. lawmakers saying?
When the strikes began, Congress had already left town to campaign for the midterm elections, and most of the reaction came from those who had pressed the administration to act sooner. Privately, many of them conceded they were relieved not to have to take a vote on a controversial issue just weeks before voters went to the polls in November.

[ralucagymnast]

Interesting; Obama actually DOES something for a change, instead of wringing his hands and drawing "red lines"???? We know what its all about, black gold. US economy is dying on its feet, so going in and taking over these oil rich countries=win win situation for the US? No doubt he will get shit for this, but seems he cant win either way; if he does nothing, hes villified; if he does something, hes villified. Damned if he does, damned if he doesnt, et al. It seems that Raqqa is the highly centralised heart of the IS operations; taking out their command and control positions is a good move. Time will tell......

[TheVrist]

My concerns will be the possible repercussions from these subtle actions. We did moderate airstrikes, now talks of aiding syrian oposers in weapons and training, that alone will take a year.

Now all around the area, we and 5 Arab governments that took part on bombing other sunnis, will this increase resentment from their own people? potentially helping ISIS promote their recruitment efforts?

[ralucagymnast]

Originally Posted by TheVrist ↗

My concerns will be the possible repercussions from these subtle actions. We did moderate airstrikes, now talks of aiding syrian oposers in weapons and training, that alone will take a year.

Now all around the area, we and 5 Arab governments that took part on bombing other sunnis, will this increase resentment from their own people? potentially helping ISIS promote their recruitment efforts?

Yeah, look how well "arming the rebels against Assads regime" went I must admit I got a sinking feeling when I read about arming Syrian opposition, after all, wasnt that what IS were in the beginning??? they were the "opposition" werent they? Thats why I said "time will tell"...

[TheVrist]

Yea, as it all unfolds, almost seems choreographed.