Nearly two weeks after President Obama announced a broader military campaign to combat ISIS, the U.S. launched airstrikes targeting the Islamist group in Syria early Tuesday morning local time. “American fighter jets and armed Predator and Reaper drones, flying alongside warplanes from several Arab allies, struck a broad array of targets in territory controlled by the militants known as the Islamic State,” the New York Times reports. “American military officials said the targets included weapons supplies, depots, barracks and buildings the militants use for command and control. Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from United States Navy ships in the region.”
“The U.S. military plans to strike up to 20 targets in and around Raqqa, Syria,” according to NBC News. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby confirmed the military operation in a statement on Monday night:
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. We will provide more details later as operationally appropriate.
