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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US, Arab Allies Launch First Wave of Strikes in Syria
2014-09-23
Seems there are planes from SA, Jordan and ??? flying (seems that could be good or bad.... can these pilots fly with our pilots? ... some bases somewhere, but at least there is involvement --- Ollie gave an incredible description for us civvies for all that is concerned for this to happen --- the AWACs, the refueling planes, the intelligence folks, command centers everywhere and of course, there are people on the ground directing traffic...
Godspeed to our military

The United States, joined by several Arab allies, launched an intense campaign of airstrikes, bombings and cruise-missile attacks against Islamic State targets in Syria Monday night marking the first U.S. military intervention in Syria since the start of that country's civil war.

Sources say the military operation includes fighter jets, B-1 bombers and Predator drones, as well as Tomahawk missiles launched from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Officials say the coalition is targeting about 20 sites, including command-and-control centers, training camps and weapons depots.

U.S. officials told Fox News that several Arab countries "including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates" were participating.
So sorta like but not as inclusive as the Bush coalition...
The operation was expected to last several hours, with the first explosions from Tomahawk missiles heard near Raqqa, the Islamic State stronghold in northern Syria

U.S. aircraft include B-1 bombers, F-16s, F-18s and Predator drones, with F-18s flying missions off the USS George H.W. Bush in the Persian Gulf. Tomahawk missiles were fired from the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke in the Red Sea.

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby released a statement Monday night saying, "I can confirm that U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.

"Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time. The decision to conduct theses strikes was made earlier today by the U.S. Central Command commander under authorization granted him by the commander in chief. "
Posted by:Sherry

#18  * MANILA TIMES > AT LEAST 120 JIHADISTS DEAD IN US-LED SYRIA STRIKES, MONITOR SAYS [SOHR].

Approximately ...
> 70 ISIS.
> 50 Al-Qaeda.
> Eight civilians repor killed.
> 300 injured.

VERSUS

* RUSSIA TODAY > AIRSTRIKES ALONE WON'T HELP US TO FIGHT ISIS, SYRIAN FM [Walid Moualem] TO RT ARABIC.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAQI PM [Al-Abadi] RETIRES TWO TOP GENERALS AFTER "ISLAMIC STATE" CONQUESTS | REUTERS.

GENS. Ali Ghaidan [Iraqi Army Chief], + Abboud Qanbar [Iraq Defence Ministry's Acting Sec-Gen].

And the fact that these now-Ex-Iraqi Top Eggs are also top Al-Maliki supporters has abolsutely positively categorically undeniably ... ...@etc. NOTHING TO DO WID ANYTHING!
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-09-23 22:53  

#17  S'what comes from relying on Assad's lads for targeting info.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-09-23 22:36  

#16  The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights = SOHR sezzes the AL-NUSRA Boyz were also hit.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-09-23 22:19  

#15  Approxi 14 ISIS targets + 8 "Khorasan Group" were attacked.

* BLOOMBERG > "IMMINENT ATTACK" ON US PROMPTED STRIKES ON KHORASAN GROUP.

As per CNN AM, looks like the US was the only non-Muslim nation participating in the attacks.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-09-23 19:47  

#14  Didn't these countries all fly with us during the first Gulf War against Saddam? So yeah it can be coordinated and carried out. Best part we used the confusion to finally bomb the Kardasians, in Brentwood, LA I think.
Posted by: Chater Creash8965   2014-09-23 17:40  

#13  Holder: Al-Qaida offshoot hit by airstrikes was close to attack on U.S., allies

But, but, but..... I thought there was "no immediate threat".....?
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-09-23 17:37  

#12  Yes Snowy, I saw that as well. Perhaps this is the standard Russian media line intended for the motherland proles. Appears Bashar Assad has given the thumbs up or "buy in."


Russia is insistent that U.S. measures to target militants in Syria lack authority without buy-in from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — a point Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon Tuesday."
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-09-23 17:23  

#11  Beo: The absence of any wild protestations from the Syrian Government or the Russians, should confirm my suspicions.

WashPo: Russia Condemns US Airstrikes Against Islamic State
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2014-09-23 11:02  

#10  What happens if one comes within AA missile firing distance or AAA missile battery range (lights up the radar)? Or is it 'if it flies, it dies' the ROE?

I would suspect that an 'understanding' was reached within the AO and flight corridors, since IS doesn't have any known operable high-speed aircraft.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-09-23 10:17  

#9  Somehow the virulent ideology that creates such groups as ISIS and AQ will have to be addressed or the Whack-a-Mole terrorist problem will keep coming up.

This is going to go on for awhile. At least the price of belonging to a terrorist group has been upped.
Posted by: JohnQC   2014-09-23 09:33  

#8  Who's handing out the IFF codes? You think Russian Syrian pilots are on the distribution list? What happens if one comes within AA missile firing distance or AAA missile battery range (lights up the radar)? Or is it 'if it flies, it dies' the ROE?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-09-23 09:24  

#7  On the radio it mentioned Al Qaeda targets I guess those were thrown in so the law that Obama was originally against authorizing strikes can now be leveraged without requesting permission from Congress.
Posted by: airandee   2014-09-23 09:05  

#6  Assad probably assisted in providing intelligence for target selection. This will be a cluster within a month.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2014-09-23 08:51  

#5  I'm reasonably certain the regime coordinated the strikes with the Assad government in some manner. The early tip-off was when we were told by Washington that "there would be no coordination with Assad." Vlad or the Iranians may have even provided targeting folders.

The absence of any wild protestations from the Syrian Government or the Russians, should confirm my suspicions.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-09-23 06:24  

#4  First reports had it that jets from Bahrain and Qatar were used. Later reports imply the airbase at Qatar was used as command and control, nada mas. Nothing more on Bahrain. Number of planes used by UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan unreported. Number of sorties unreported.
Posted by: Beldar Sloque3832   2014-09-23 06:23  

#3  I guess the generals won that argument... or perhaps the Saudis did. One hopes Syria's Assad was given a few minutes warning.
Posted by: trailing wife   2014-09-23 03:14  

#2  If you told me a year ago Sunnis would be bombing Sunnis, I wouldn't have believed you.

Jordan excepted BTW.
Posted by: phil_b   2014-09-23 03:01  

#1  Reported -- F22's being used -- first time in combat.....
Posted by: Sherry   2014-09-23 01:54