U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time

By Jim Sciutto, Mariano Castillo and Holly Yan, CNN

September 23, 2014 -- Updated 0558 GMT (1358 HKT)



(CNN) -- American jets began bombing ISIS targets in Syria early Tuesday, raising U.S. involvement in the war-torn country and sending a forceful message to the terror group.

The airstrikes focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a U.S. official told CNN, though other locations were hit as well.

At least 20 targets in an around Raqqa were hit, the opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

They're the first strikes against the terror group inside the country since President Barack Obama's announcement this month that he was prepared to expand the American efforts beyond targets in Iraq.

All foreign partners participating in the strikes with the United States are Arab countries, a senior U.S. military official told CNN. Those nations are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Diplomatic sources told CNN that Qatar was also involved, though it was not clear whether Qatar actually conducted airstrikes itself.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: At least 20 targets were hit, a Syrian opposition group says

Get the latest updates on CNN.com's live blog

Activists: A recruitment center and a building in a governor's compound are hit

The U.S. and "partner nation forces" began striking ISIS targets using fighters, bombers and Tomahawk missiles, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said, though he didn't specify a geographic location.

Qatar, Baharain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan participate in the operation

"ISIS is the bully, and we just punched him in the nose," ex-Delta Force officer says

Citing the ongoing operations, Kirby said the Pentagon would not provide additional details immediately. But a U.S. military official said the strikes are meant to target the ability of ISIS to command and control, resupply and train.



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Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea initiated the strike, followed by bombers and fighters, a senior U.S. military official told CNN.

'There are five Arab nations involved'



The goal with this first move is to have an initial, definitive blow, the official said, describing the pace of the operation as intense.

Most of the spots hit were hard targets such as buildings, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

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A post office, a recruitment center and a building in the governor's compound were among the structures in Raqqa hit by U.S. airstrikes, Syrian opposition activists said.

There was no immediate word about casualties, the activists said.

Military: U.S. ready to strike ISIS in Syria



Power went out in the city shortly after the airstrikes but was restored later Tuesday morning.

A 'punch in the nose'

Until now, ISIS has been able to take over cities and operate in Syria with near impunity. Now, it's coming under attack.

Photos: Syrian civil war in 2014

"This is the punch in the nose to the bully that we talked about on the playground," former Delta Force officer James Reese said. "ISIS is the bully, and we just punched him in the nose."

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With the airstrikes, the United States enters a new level of engagement in the ongoing Syrian civil war. Obama had resisted U.S. military action in Syria, but as the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq made sweeping advances in both Middle Eastern neighbors, calls for such a step grew.

"I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are," Obama said in a September 10 speech. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven."

The message of the speech was clear -- it was a matter of when, not if -- the United States would carry out airstrikes inside Syria.

A U.S. intelligence official said that while law enforcement is aware the airstrikes against ISIS in Syria could incite a response, there is no evidence to suggest any terrorist strike is in the works against the United States.

200,000 flee in biggest displacement of Syrian conflict

Last week, U.S. officials told CNN that the military had everything in place it needed to strike ISIS inside Syria and was awaiting Obama's go-ahead to do so.

For weeks, intelligence and military targeting specialists have been working around the clock on a list of targets, the officials said. It is unlikely that the President reviewed all the targets individuall, but was presented broad guidance with analysis about the risks of bombing inside Syria, as well as the rewards in terms of attacking ISIS.

Al Qaeda's new Syrian franchise has a mission: Attack the West

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee last week that he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey signed off on plans to strike ISIS in Syria.

"CENTCOM's plan includes targeted actions against ISIL safe havens in Syria -- including its command and control, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure," Hagel said last week. "Our actions will not be restrained by a border that exists in name only.

That is good

Here we go again...

...another endless war.

ISIS...AL QEADA. Truth b told, america wld neva leave d middle east.

Gud. Kill the terrorists.

Waiting for Russia's response to this...

They should waste those wicked bastards .

They are terrorist cos if they were able to defeat the govt they wont listen to america. They are freedom fighters to others cos that is what they are fighting for is what most musilm and islam want

ifaoni: Gud. Kill the terrorists.

Waiting patiently to see their downfall...inhumans killing like they r gods..

Have u ever stop to ask ur self why terrorism is on the increase , in the case of ISIS I trust America , it doesn't condone slap on it face. ISIS over to u

2cato: They are terrorist cos if they were able to defeat the govt they wont listen to america. They are freedom fighters to others cos that is what they are fighting for is what most musilm and islam want

At times it is better not to comment at all rather than spew out unthought statements. Is the likes of saudi arabia, jordan, qatar, uae now the new headquarter of the catholic church or the king of saudi is now a born again christian that he will now go against what you call "what most muslims and islam want"

I don't know which christian doctrine hitler was following when he set out on his reich or the norwegian who set out to kill tens of his own people. A terrorist need no religion to propagate his dogma of pursuing his objective and bringing the attention of the world to his perceived injustice and opinion.

The biggest casualty in all these acts of terrorism worldwide from afghanistan to pakistan to iraq to borno, yobe and adamawa are thousands of innocent muslims yet in your jaundiced opinion " that is what most muslims and islam want"

When you do away with the bornwith hatred you were taught by your pastors right from childhood to have against islam and look inward you will see you once had or have a friend, colleague or classmate who is a muslim yet was not a terrorist.

Some weeks ago, Obama said west must arm ISIS to fight Assad government, now they are bombing same ISIS......World wide which way now?

Check

google https://www.google.co.za/search?q=john+mccain+isis+photo&client=firefox-a&hs=Hsh&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ES4hVPDuEpG07Qb62YG4Ag&ved=0CB0QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=635