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| Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets | Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The US and five Arab allies have launched the first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. | The US and five Arab allies have launched the first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. |
| The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attacks, which targeted several areas including IS stronghold Raqqa. | The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attacks, which targeted several areas including IS stronghold Raqqa. |
| Syria's foreign ministry said its UN envoy was informed about the strikes against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq. | Syria's foreign ministry said its UN envoy was informed about the strikes against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq. |
| The US has already launched about 190 air strikes in Iraq since August. | The US has already launched about 190 air strikes in Iraq since August. |
| However, Monday's action expands the campaign against the militant group across the border into Syria. | However, Monday's action expands the campaign against the militant group across the border into Syria. |
| Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby confirmed the operation, saying "US military and partner nation forces" had undertaken military action in Syria. | Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby confirmed the operation, saying "US military and partner nation forces" had undertaken military action in Syria. |
| US Central Command (Centcom) said Sunni Arab countries Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "participated in or supported" the strikes. | US Central Command (Centcom) said Sunni Arab countries Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "participated in or supported" the strikes. |
| It said a total of 14 strikes destroyed or damaged IS training compounds, command and control facilities, vehicles and storage sites. | It said a total of 14 strikes destroyed or damaged IS training compounds, command and control facilities, vehicles and storage sites. |
| The US military will continue to conduct air strikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria, it added. | The US military will continue to conduct air strikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria, it added. |
| Separately, Centcom said US forces also attacked a network of al-Qaeda veterans named Khorasan who had established a safe haven west of Aleppo and were plotting imminent attacks against the West. | Separately, Centcom said US forces also attacked a network of al-Qaeda veterans named Khorasan who had established a safe haven west of Aleppo and were plotting imminent attacks against the West. |
| Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC Security correspondent | Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC Security correspondent |
| These air strikes mark a major shift in operations against IS for two reasons. | These air strikes mark a major shift in operations against IS for two reasons. |
| Firstly, they now expand the fight across the border into the group's heartland in Syria. | Firstly, they now expand the fight across the border into the group's heartland in Syria. |
| IS knew they were coming and had already dispersed some of their key assets. But it will still be a shock to many that their de facto capital of Raqqa is no longer a safe haven. | IS knew they were coming and had already dispersed some of their key assets. But it will still be a shock to many that their de facto capital of Raqqa is no longer a safe haven. |
| Secondly, the participation of Arab states spreads the responsibility to some extent away from just the US. | Secondly, the participation of Arab states spreads the responsibility to some extent away from just the US. |
| Islamic State will be enraged by this - it has no effective military answers to US air power - so those Arab countries that supported or took part in the action may well now be bracing themselves for possible reprisals. | Islamic State will be enraged by this - it has no effective military answers to US air power - so those Arab countries that supported or took part in the action may well now be bracing themselves for possible reprisals. |
| The strikes targeted Raqqa, an IS stronghold in eastern Syria the group captured in 2013, and the cities of Deir al-Zour, Hassakeh and Abu Kamal. | The strikes targeted Raqqa, an IS stronghold in eastern Syria the group captured in 2013, and the cities of Deir al-Zour, Hassakeh and Abu Kamal. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists on the ground, said more than 20 militants were killed in two strikes on IS positions in Raqqa. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists on the ground, said more than 20 militants were killed in two strikes on IS positions in Raqqa. |
| It also said 30 al-Qaeda-linked fighters and 8 civilians, including three children, were killed in strikes west of Aleppo. | It also said 30 al-Qaeda-linked fighters and 8 civilians, including three children, were killed in strikes west of Aleppo. |
| 'Bombing without consent' | 'Bombing without consent' |
| Jordan said its "air force jets destroyed a number of targets that belong to some terrorist groups that sought to commit terror acts inside Jordan." | Jordan said its "air force jets destroyed a number of targets that belong to some terrorist groups that sought to commit terror acts inside Jordan." |
| Analysts say it is significant that countries with a Sunni majority, like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, are among those supporting US efforts against IS. | Analysts say it is significant that countries with a Sunni majority, like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, are among those supporting US efforts against IS. |
| IS members are jihadists who adhere to an extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam and consider themselves the only true believers. | IS members are jihadists who adhere to an extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam and consider themselves the only true believers. |
| Syria did not formally consent to the strikes on its territory, but its foreign minister said he was passed a letter from US Secretary of State John Kerry via his Iraqi counterpart hours before the raids started. | |
| In other developments: | |
| The US and allies including the UK have ruled out co-operating against IS with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, whom they accuse of responsibility for huge numbers of civilian deaths during Syria's civil war. | The US and allies including the UK have ruled out co-operating against IS with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, whom they accuse of responsibility for huge numbers of civilian deaths during Syria's civil war. |
| Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said last month that any US action would be "considered aggression" unless it was co-ordinated with Syria. | Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said last month that any US action would be "considered aggression" unless it was co-ordinated with Syria. |
| Hadi al-Bahra, president of the National Coalition, Syria's main opposition alliance, welcomed the military action but said "strikes alone cannot defeat extremism for good." | Hadi al-Bahra, president of the National Coalition, Syria's main opposition alliance, welcomed the military action but said "strikes alone cannot defeat extremism for good." |
| "The long-term solution is moderate, inclusive Syrian governance that prevents the resurgence of extremism," he said in a statement. | "The long-term solution is moderate, inclusive Syrian governance that prevents the resurgence of extremism," he said in a statement. |
| Refugee crisis | Refugee crisis |
| Islamic State - also known as Isis, or Isil - has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq, imposed a harsh brand of Islam, and declared a caliphate. | Islamic State - also known as Isis, or Isil - has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq, imposed a harsh brand of Islam, and declared a caliphate. |
| The group, which the CIA says could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, has executed captive soldiers, aid workers and journalists, and threatened the mass killing of Iraqi religious minorities. | The group, which the CIA says could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, has executed captive soldiers, aid workers and journalists, and threatened the mass killing of Iraqi religious minorities. |
| The IS advance in northern Syria has created a refugee crisis in neighbouring Turkey, with about 130,000 Kurdish refugees crossing the border at the weekend. | The IS advance in northern Syria has created a refugee crisis in neighbouring Turkey, with about 130,000 Kurdish refugees crossing the border at the weekend. |
| Most refugees are from Kobane, a Syrian town close to the Turkish border that is under siege by IS militants. | Most refugees are from Kobane, a Syrian town close to the Turkish border that is under siege by IS militants. |
| The UN refugee agency said it was making contingency plans to deal with the rest of Kobane's 400,000 inhabitants fleeing into Turkey. | |
| Before the latest influx, there were already more than one million Syrian refugees in Turkey. | Before the latest influx, there were already more than one million Syrian refugees in Turkey. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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