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.

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.

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".

The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the strikes.

HQ targeted
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.

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.

President Obama said al-Qaeda-linked militants, known as the Khorasan Group, were also targeted in Syria.

"We will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people," he said.

He warned that the operation against IS would take some time, but that he would do "what is necessary" to defeat the extremists.

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.

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29333348

That weird moment when America starts helping Assad cos they are scared IS will destabilize their middle easter allies

America created the IS in the guise of "Free Syria army" now they have to fight their once freedom fighters. Crazy!

For a terror horde that is purpotedly 30k plus strong, I do not see how the death of 70 or so amongst their file will do any difference.......


We will keep watching this charade to see what Amerilka's next move will be in preparation for unseating ASSAD

I think it's silly for anyone especially Muslims to support either sides in this matter. Devils created devils. Devils fighting devils and devils create confusion. What we seeing requires studies of ilm akhir az-zaman, Islamic epistemology to better understand the situation.
Prophet of Islam(saw) used to pray to Allah to make him see things what they are not what they appear to be. I used to take this prayer lightly until I notice that lots of people don't understand this situation. The same fools they proclaimed " freesyrianarmy"' "moderate group" and then gave them weapons like Santa Claus and applauding them as freedom fighters. Then conveniently so, called them IS with their barbaric behavior. And now fighting the same fools. Don't you guys smell something in this whole thing?. Here is the thing though. They want to constantly put Islam on the news in bad light so that mankind could reject it. It's as master plan strategy. But they plan and Allah also planned and Allah's plan is bound to prevail