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| Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets | Syria: US begins air strikes on Islamic State targets |
| (35 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. |
| US Gen Martin Dempsey, America's highest-ranking uniformed military officer, said the strikes were conducted to show IS militants they had no safe haven. "We certainly achieved that," he told reporters. | |
| 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 UK-based 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 UK-based 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. |
| Earlier, it said 30 al-Qaeda-linked fighters were also killed in strikes west of Aleppo, but it later raised the figure to 50. Eight civilians, including three children, were reported to have died. | Earlier, it said 30 al-Qaeda-linked fighters were also killed in strikes west of Aleppo, but it later raised the figure to 50. Eight civilians, including three children, were reported to have died. |
| '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. | 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: | 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. | 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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