The US, along with “Arab partners,” has begun bombing the headquarters of ISIS in Raqqa, Syria tonight.
Here’s a report from CNN on what’s going on:
CNN – U.S. jets began airstrikes in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, early Tuesday, 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, a U.S. official told CNN.
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.
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.
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 hits were hard targets, like buildings, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
Here’s video of the airstrikes (via GWP):