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IS strikes: Not America's fight alone - Obama IS strikes: Not America's fight alone - Obama
(35 minutes later)
President Obama has hailed the support of Arab nations in air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants, saying: "This is not America's fight alone."President Obama has hailed the support of Arab nations in air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants, saying: "This is not America's fight alone."
He was speaking hours after the US and Arab allies launched their first air strikes against IS in Syria.He was speaking hours after the US and Arab allies launched their first air strikes against IS in Syria.
Activists say at least 70 IS militants and 50 other al-Qaeda-linked fighters were killed in the strikes.Activists say at least 70 IS militants and 50 other al-Qaeda-linked fighters were killed in the strikes.
Syrian officials say they were given advance warning of the strikes, but the US state department has denied this. US state department spokeswoman Jan Psaki said the US had warned Syria in advance "not to engage US aircraft".
But she added that the US had not requested permission or given advance notice of the timing of the attacks.
President Obama confirmed Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar had taken part in or supported the strikes.President Obama confirmed Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar had taken part in or supported the strikes.
He said the US was "proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations".He said the US was "proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations".
The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the strikes.The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the strikes.
'Imminent attacks''Imminent attacks'
IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, and the US has launched nearly 200 air strikes in Iraq since August.IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, and the US has launched nearly 200 air strikes in Iraq since August.
But Monday's strikes expanded the anti-IS campaign across the border into Syria for the first time.But Monday's strikes expanded the anti-IS campaign across the border into Syria for the first time.
The strikes targeted the group's main headquarters in its stronghold of Raqqa, north-eastern Syria.The strikes targeted the group's main headquarters in its stronghold of Raqqa, north-eastern Syria.
IS training compounds, vehicles and storage sites were also hit in several other areas.IS training compounds, vehicles and storage sites were also hit in several other areas.
The attacks were organised in three separate waves, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant General Bill Mayville told reporters.The attacks were organised in three separate waves, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant General Bill Mayville told reporters.
US fighter jets carried out the first set, with the Arab nations participating in the second and third waves, he added.US fighter jets carried out the first set, with the Arab nations participating in the second and third waves, he added.
Another spokesman, John Kirby, described the overnight strikes as "very successful".Another spokesman, John Kirby, described the overnight strikes as "very successful".
President Obama said al-Qaeda-linked militants, known as the Khorasan Group, were also targeted in Syria. President Obama said al-Qaeda-linked militants, known as the Khorasan Group, were also targeted by eight air strikes in Syria.
"We will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people," he said."We will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people," he said.
US officials say the group had been plotting "imminent attacks" against the West, and had established a safe haven west of Aleppo.US officials say the group had been plotting "imminent attacks" against the West, and had established a safe haven west of Aleppo.
President Obama warned that the operation against IS would take some time, but that he would do "what is necessary" to defeat the extremists.President Obama warned that the operation against IS would take some time, but that he would do "what is necessary" to defeat the extremists.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Turkey had pledged to take part in US-led coalition against IS following the release of 46 Turkish hostages on Saturday, AFP reports.
Analysis - Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondentAnalysis - Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
So far this campaign both in Iraq and Syria has rolled out as most analysts and the White House itself would have predicted. The Pentagon set out three broad groups of targets arranged in an arc across northern Syria.
The question now is not so much what comes next - air strikes are likely to settle down into a regular pattern with bursts of more intense activity related to developments on the ground. Those closest to the Mediterranean coast seem to have been hit largely by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from warships - this is an area where Syrian government air defences may still have coverage.
The real questions are: can the other elements of the US strategy be rolled out equally effectively? Can the conditions for an IS defeat be established on the ground? And to what extent can IS itself fight back? Though the briefer Lt Gen William Mayville noted that Syrian air defences were "passive", as he put it during the course of the operation.
For the US and its allies may well have acted, as they see it, out of necessity but they have embarked upon an unpredictable and uncertain course. This suggests a conscious decision by Syrian commanders who perhaps feared that active scanning by their defences might draw down air attacks upon them.
The operation was notable for involving aircraft from Jordan and from Washington's Gulf allies. It also marked the first use in combat of one of the USAF's most modern aircraft, the F-22 Raptor.
This the Pentagon is stressing is just the start of "a sustained air campaign", the tempo of which, says a Pentagon spokesman, "will be dictated by facts on the ground".
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he supported any international efforts to combat "terrorism" in Syria, state media reports.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he supported any international efforts to combat "terrorism" in Syria, state media reports.
"Syria will continue to resolutely fight the war it has been prosecuting for years against... terrorism," he said, after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Damascus."Syria will continue to resolutely fight the war it has been prosecuting for years against... terrorism," he said, after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Damascus.
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.
Who are Islamic State (IS)?Who are Islamic State (IS)?