Assault on ISIS begins: Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear
Adm. John Kirby confirmed× Monday nightthat the U.S. and partner nations have
begun airstrikes in× Syria against Islamic State militants
Target: With the aid of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates, the U.S. chose to strike the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa
(pictured) first late× Monday and into Tuesday
Just the beginning? Along with partner nations Bahrain,
Saudi Arabia, the× Emirates and Jordan, the strikes began in the
ISIS stronghold city of Raqqa
Rolling out the Raptor: According to reports, the
$139million F-22 stealth fighter jet saw combat for the first time ever during
the strikes over× Raqqa. Two of the jets are pictured here, over Guam
The aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush is pictured here. It
is currently in the× Gulf and may have been a launching point for some
of the aircraft that struck at× Syria on Monday (FILE)
Strong presence: Military leaders have said about two-thirds
of the estimated 31,000 Islamic State militants were in× Syria. The U.S. has
also been increasing its surveillance flights over× Syria, getting better
intelligent on potential targets and militant movements
Assault on ISIS begins: U.S. and partner nations send fighter jets, bombers and× Tomahawk missiles into rebel-held Syria
*Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the× Emirates and Jordan are aiding with the strikes, starting in the ISIS stronghold city of Raqqa
*The U.S. is the only non-Arab nation taking part in this first-wave strike
*General Lloyd
Austin, commander of the U.S. military's Central Command, made the
decision to conduct the strikes as authorized by Obama
*Obama vowed two weeks ago to stop ISIS after the beheading of× Westerners by the Islamic extremists, including two American journalists
*The $139 million F-22 stealth fighter jets saw their first combat ever over Syria
*Tomahawk missiles were launched from the northern× Gulf and from the Red Sea
The U.S. and partner nations launched the first-wave air assault against ISIS in× Syria on Monday night using a one-two punch of manned aircraft and× Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The strikes were part of the× Obama's campaign to disrupt and destroy the× Islamic extremists, who have slaughtered thousands of people, beheaded× Westerners, and captured a large swath of territory stretching from within× Syria to land across northern and western Iraq.
Along with partner nations Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the× Emirates and Jordan, the strikes began in the ISIS stronghold city of× Raqqa, reports CNN.
Qatar may also have been involved in the strikes.
The strikes were carried out by 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.
U.S. officials said the airstrikes began around 8:30 p.m.
EDT.
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.
Kirby said the decision to strike was made earlier Monday by
the military.
Kirby did not name the partner nations participating in the
operation; however U.S. officials have said the U.S. would not launch this
mission alone and some Arab nations had been expected to participate.
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