US, Arab countries bomb ISIS targets in Syria

Following an authorization of aerial raids against Islamic State militants by US President, Barack Obama last week, the US and five Arab countries have commenced airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. The coalition used fighter jets, bombers and Tomahawk missiles launched from US ships in the northern Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

The Arab countries involved are: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar. Their roles are however unclear.

Among targets believed to have been hit is the IS headquarters in Raqqa in eastern Syria, a Syrian army base the militants recently seized. The militants’ command and control centres, re-supply facilities, training camps and other key sites have also been penciled down for attack.

Officials in Damascus, the Syrian capital said Washington informed Syria's UN envoy before launching the strikes.

Military leaders have said about two-thirds of the estimated 31,000 IS militants are in Syria.
International efforts to combat the group was stepped up after the beheading of two American journalists and British aid worker David Haines, and the threat to kill UK hostage Alan Henning.

Meanwhile, a second propaganda video of British hostage John Cantlie has been released by Islamic State.

Forced to speak to the camera, Cantlie addressed the coalition of states targeting the group, though it is not clear when the video was filmed.

He said:"Everyone now is getting involved," he said. "Denmark and France have sent airpower, Britain is arming the Kurds, Iran is sending troops and contractors are being sought in Iraq.

"Even Bashar al Assad, until earlier this year the most hated and villainised tyrant in the Arab world, is being approached for permission to go into Syria.

"It's all quite a circus. Not since Vietnam have we witnessed a potential mess in the making."