The United States and allies began bombing fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the city of Raqqa on Monday, near the northern Syrian border.
Raqqa is considered to be the “capital” of the ISIS attempt at a caliphate (state ruled by Islamic law.)
Both Russia and Iran, who are firm allies of the Syrian government, have warned the United States and others not to attack ISIS terrorists in Syria without first securing permission from President Bashar al-Assad.
However, according to a report posted Tuesday morning by the New York Daily News, Damascus said that “Washington informed Syria’s United Nations envoy before bombing the country.”
ISIS has swallowed a huge swathe of territory across Iraq and northern Syria, and is hoping to continue its bloodthirsty campaign to conquer as much territory as possible across the Middle East in order to establish an Islamic caliphate. The group simply slaughters those it calls “non-believers” wherever it goes – including other Muslims — usually by shooting or beheading them.
The military campaign, conducted by air with fighter jets and by warships at sea, is open-ended, the Pentagon told journalists in a briefing Monday. Buildings and arms depots were the primary targets.
The attack marks the first time the U.S. has carried out air strikes against the global jihad terror group outside of Iraq. U.S. air strikes against ISIS began in Iraq on August 8.
“U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against (Islamic State) terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk land attack missiles,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. “Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time,” he added.
Several Arab nations participated in the operation, although the Pentagon did not identify them. According to CNN and other international outlets, there were four: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.