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| Obama hails Arab allies and says Isis offensive is not 'America's fight alone' | Obama hails Arab allies and says Isis offensive is not 'America's fight alone' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US president Barack Obama hailed the backing of five Arab nations for its intensive military attacks against Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria on Tuesday, saying it showed that the effort to thwart the militant group was not “America’s fight alone”. | US president Barack Obama hailed the backing of five Arab nations for its intensive military attacks against Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria on Tuesday, saying it showed that the effort to thwart the militant group was not “America’s fight alone”. |
| Overnight strikes against Isis took place in concert with five Arab allies – Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – and marked a substantial escalation in the campaign against the militant group also known as Isil. | Overnight strikes against Isis took place in concert with five Arab allies – Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – and marked a substantial escalation in the campaign against the militant group also known as Isil. |
| The US-led strikes were carried out with support from the five Sunni Arab monarchies and emirates, using fighter jets, bombers and Tomahawk missiles to blast 22 targets in Syrian territory. No European allies participated in the military action, which also included unilateral strikes by the US against a separate, al-Qaida-aligned group known as Khorasan, attacking it west of Aleppo. | |
| “America is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations on behalf of our common security,” Obama said. “The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this isn’t America’s fight alone. Above all, the people and governments of the Middle East are rejecting Isil, and standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserve.” | “America is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations on behalf of our common security,” Obama said. “The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this isn’t America’s fight alone. Above all, the people and governments of the Middle East are rejecting Isil, and standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserve.” |
| The US president also said Washington had the support of “more than 40 nations” who have offered to help with the broader effort against Isis, by strengthening Iraq forces and Syrian opposition fighters, cutting off the militant group’s financing, and stemming the flow of foreign fighters into and and out of the region. | The US president also said Washington had the support of “more than 40 nations” who have offered to help with the broader effort against Isis, by strengthening Iraq forces and Syrian opposition fighters, cutting off the militant group’s financing, and stemming the flow of foreign fighters into and and out of the region. |
| After his remarks on the White House lawn, Obama immediately boarded a flight to the United Nations in New York, where he is under intense pressure to build a broader international backing for a war against militants which has already been going on in Iraq for over a month. | After his remarks on the White House lawn, Obama immediately boarded a flight to the United Nations in New York, where he is under intense pressure to build a broader international backing for a war against militants which has already been going on in Iraq for over a month. |
| Obama signalled in an address to the nation earlier this month that he was prepared to bomb targets in Syria as well as Iraq. “I also made clear [in that address] that America would take action as part of a broad coalition, and that is exactly what we’ve done,” Obama said. | Obama signalled in an address to the nation earlier this month that he was prepared to bomb targets in Syria as well as Iraq. “I also made clear [in that address] that America would take action as part of a broad coalition, and that is exactly what we’ve done,” Obama said. |
| The switch in focus to Isis strongholds in Syria marked a major turning point in Obama’s foreign policy. Large explosions were reported in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the main Isis stronghold of Raqqa, in eastern Syria, in attacks that reportedly killed more than 120 militants and several civilians. | The switch in focus to Isis strongholds in Syria marked a major turning point in Obama’s foreign policy. Large explosions were reported in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the main Isis stronghold of Raqqa, in eastern Syria, in attacks that reportedly killed more than 120 militants and several civilians. |
| Buildings that had been used openly as Isis command centres in Raqqa were destroyed. However, they had long been evacuated as momentum built towards the attacks, and their occupants had melted into the streets of the city, which in the middle of last year became the first Syrian city to fall completely outside the control of the regime. | Buildings that had been used openly as Isis command centres in Raqqa were destroyed. However, they had long been evacuated as momentum built towards the attacks, and their occupants had melted into the streets of the city, which in the middle of last year became the first Syrian city to fall completely outside the control of the regime. |
| The US Central Command (Centcom), whose leader, General Lloyd Austin, is the commanding officer for the new air strikes, confirmed the US struck Isis targets in the eastern triangle stretching from Raqqa to Deir Ezzor to al-Hasakah, as well as south to Abu Kamal near the former border with Iraq’s western Anbar province. | The US Central Command (Centcom), whose leader, General Lloyd Austin, is the commanding officer for the new air strikes, confirmed the US struck Isis targets in the eastern triangle stretching from Raqqa to Deir Ezzor to al-Hasakah, as well as south to Abu Kamal near the former border with Iraq’s western Anbar province. |
| Centcom said its targets included “fighters, training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles.” It said that 47 missiles were fired from the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Philippine Sea operating from international waters, adding that all aircraft involved in the strikes returned safely, though there was no word on whether Syrian air defences attempted to challenge US and allied aircraft. | Centcom said its targets included “fighters, training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles.” It said that 47 missiles were fired from the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Philippine Sea operating from international waters, adding that all aircraft involved in the strikes returned safely, though there was no word on whether Syrian air defences attempted to challenge US and allied aircraft. |
| US warplanes also undertook another unilateral operation on Monday night. Over 200km to the west, near Aleppo, the US struck what officials have described as an external operations cell called Khorasan, within the Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s preferred affiliate in Syria. A statement from Centcom said eight strikes were launched to disrupt “imminent attack plotting against United States and Western interests.” | US warplanes also undertook another unilateral operation on Monday night. Over 200km to the west, near Aleppo, the US struck what officials have described as an external operations cell called Khorasan, within the Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s preferred affiliate in Syria. A statement from Centcom said eight strikes were launched to disrupt “imminent attack plotting against United States and Western interests.” |
| But earlier on Monday, a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Guardian there was no imminent domestic threat that Khorasan posed to the US. During a public appearance on 18 September, the top US intelligence official, James Clapper, said that Khorasan posed “potentially yet another threat to the homeland.” | But earlier on Monday, a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Guardian there was no imminent domestic threat that Khorasan posed to the US. During a public appearance on 18 September, the top US intelligence official, James Clapper, said that Khorasan posed “potentially yet another threat to the homeland.” |
| “It must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and try to do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people,” Obama said. | “It must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and try to do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people,” Obama said. |
| Mary Ellen O’Connell, an international law professor at Notre Dame University, called the new phase of Syria strikes “highly questionable,” particularly given the Obama administration’s adamant insistence it did not seek Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s permission to fly over Syrian airspace. | Mary Ellen O’Connell, an international law professor at Notre Dame University, called the new phase of Syria strikes “highly questionable,” particularly given the Obama administration’s adamant insistence it did not seek Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s permission to fly over Syrian airspace. |
| Under international law, “the Syrian government is the only party that can give consent to these airs trikes,” O’Connell said. | Under international law, “the Syrian government is the only party that can give consent to these airs trikes,” O’Connell said. |
| The US State Department confirmed on Tuesday that Obama’s ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, gave her Syrian counterpart an advance indication of likely military attacks against Isis in the country – but strongly denied any military coordination with Assad, against whom the US nearly went to war last year. | The US State Department confirmed on Tuesday that Obama’s ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, gave her Syrian counterpart an advance indication of likely military attacks against Isis in the country – but strongly denied any military coordination with Assad, against whom the US nearly went to war last year. |
| “We warned Syria not to engage US aircraft,” said Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, in a statement. | “We warned Syria not to engage US aircraft,” said Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, in a statement. |
| “We did not request the regime’s permission. We did not coordinate our actions with the Syrian government. We did not provide advance notification to the Syrians at a military level, or give any indication of our timing on specific targets.” | “We did not request the regime’s permission. We did not coordinate our actions with the Syrian government. We did not provide advance notification to the Syrians at a military level, or give any indication of our timing on specific targets.” |
| At least 120 militants militants and eight civilians were killed in the US-led strikes, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors military activity in Syria. It said 70 of the killed militants were from Isis, while the other 50 it described as being aligned with the Nusra Front, the parent organization of the Khorasan cell. | At least 120 militants militants and eight civilians were killed in the US-led strikes, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors military activity in Syria. It said 70 of the killed militants were from Isis, while the other 50 it described as being aligned with the Nusra Front, the parent organization of the Khorasan cell. |
| About 100 critically injured fighters were taken to Iraq for treatment, it added.The Observatory also said there had been eight civilian casualties, included three children. Its reports could not be independently verified. | About 100 critically injured fighters were taken to Iraq for treatment, it added.The Observatory also said there had been eight civilian casualties, included three children. Its reports could not be independently verified. |
| Obama was scheduled to arrive at the UN headquarters in New York later on Tuesday, with an intensive diplomatic push to garner support for the war already underway. On Wednesday, Obama will address the UN General Assembly and chair a meeting of the UN security council, pushing for a binding resolution against Isis, including an international travel ban on foreign fighters travelling from other countries. | Obama was scheduled to arrive at the UN headquarters in New York later on Tuesday, with an intensive diplomatic push to garner support for the war already underway. On Wednesday, Obama will address the UN General Assembly and chair a meeting of the UN security council, pushing for a binding resolution against Isis, including an international travel ban on foreign fighters travelling from other countries. |
| Although the UK did not participate in Tuesday’s strikes, prime minister David Cameron expressed support for military action. Russia, Syria’s main international ally, which like the UK is a permanent member of the UN security council, denounced the US-led strikes as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. | Although the UK did not participate in Tuesday’s strikes, prime minister David Cameron expressed support for military action. Russia, Syria’s main international ally, which like the UK is a permanent member of the UN security council, denounced the US-led strikes as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. |
| Iran also questioned the legality of the US-led air strikes. The Wall Street Journal quoted President Rouhani as saying that the strikes amounted to an attack because they were not approved by the UN or Syria. | Iran also questioned the legality of the US-led air strikes. The Wall Street Journal quoted President Rouhani as saying that the strikes amounted to an attack because they were not approved by the UN or Syria. |
| However, Washington believes the support of the five Sunni Arab allies, an alliance that appears to have been pulled together in the 48 hours leading up to the strikes, are critical to legitimacy of its expanded war against Isis. | However, Washington believes the support of the five Sunni Arab allies, an alliance that appears to have been pulled together in the 48 hours leading up to the strikes, are critical to legitimacy of its expanded war against Isis. |
| Hours after the strikes began, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told a small group of reporters accompanying him on a flight from flight to Washington from Europe that Arab support was indispensable, saying “I can’t overstate” the importance of the five Sunni allies. | Hours after the strikes began, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told a small group of reporters accompanying him on a flight from flight to Washington from Europe that Arab support was indispensable, saying “I can’t overstate” the importance of the five Sunni allies. |
| “We now have a kind of credible campaign against Isil that includes a coalition of partners,” he said, according to the Associated Press. | “We now have a kind of credible campaign against Isil that includes a coalition of partners,” he said, according to the Associated Press. |
| Dempsey, who as recently as Sunday said the US was still working to secure the backing from Arab allies, and would not broaden its military campaign without their support, indicated on Tuesday the unprecedented alliance came together quickly. | Dempsey, who as recently as Sunday said the US was still working to secure the backing from Arab allies, and would not broaden its military campaign without their support, indicated on Tuesday the unprecedented alliance came together quickly. |
| “Once we had one of them on board, the others followed quickly thereafter,” he added. | “Once we had one of them on board, the others followed quickly thereafter,” he added. |