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03/29/2024 02:17:53 am

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Pentagon: U.S., Arab Allies Launch First Wave Strikes Against Daesh In Syria

U.S. Airstrikes Against Islamic State

(Photo : Reuters) The United States named the coalition campaign against the Islamic State group Operation Inherent Resolve on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

The United States and its five Arab allies have launched the first wave of air strikes against Daesh in Syria, Pentagon confirmed late Tuesday morning, marking the first intervention of the United States in Syria since the start of the civil war.

Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, confirmed that at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. military with partner Arab forces have undertaken military actions against Daesh militants based in Syria.

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The U.S. used Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, fighter jets and bombers and the attack lasted for 90 minutes, Fox News reported.

Rear Adm. Kirby confirmed that the US Central Command conducted the air strikes earlier today under President Barack Obama's orders.

He declined to offer further information on the operation, citing its on-going nature. Details shall be provided as "operationally appropriate" later, he said.

An unnamed US official told ABC News that up to 20 locations across the Daesh stronghold in Raqqa have already been targeted.

According to NBC News, targets included troop encampments, weapon depots, training sites and headquarter buildings for the Sunni militants based in Syria.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Defense Department official told USA Today that warplanes from five Arab states including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain were mobilized for the air strikes.

ABC News reported that the controversial F-22 Raptor was used for the first time in U.S. combat history along with B-1 bombers, F-18s, F-16s and Predator drones. Destroyer USS Arleigh Burked launched Tomahawk from the Red Sea.

The strikes follow President Obama's speech last September 10, during which he outlined his administration's plan to conduct an expanded air campaign against Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

As of Monday, the U.S. military has launched about 190 air strikes against terrorist targets in Iraq.

Plans for attacking the terror group in Syria have been complicated by regional conflicts involving Bashar al-Assad's government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned U.S. against any military offense against Syria, citing any attack in Syria is a breach in the country's sovereignty.

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