Kampf gegen ISIS: USA und Verbündete greifen Ziele in Syrien an

Im Kampf gegen die islamistischen ISIS-Milizen haben die USA und verbündete arabische Staaten in der Nacht zum (heutigen) Dienstag erstmals Ziele in Syrien angegriffen. Unterstützt wurden die US-Luftschläge mit Kampfjets und Tomahawk-Marschflugkörpern nach den bisherigen Meldungen von Saudi-Arabien, den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, Jordanien, Bahrain und möglicherweise auch Katar. Hauptziel soll Raqqa, die Hochburg der ISIS, gewesen sein. Syrien war nach eigenen Angaben zuvor informiert worden; die syrische Flugabwehr schaltete sich offensichtlich nicht ein.

Update:

Statement von US-Präsident Barack Obama zu den Luftangriffen

Eine ausführliche Mitteilung des US-Militärs dazu:

U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes in Syria
From a U.S. Central Command News Release
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 – U.S. military forces and partner nations, including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, undertook military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria overnight, according to a U.S. Central Command news release.
A mix of fighters, bombers, remotely piloted aircraft and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles conducted 14 strikes against ISIL targets.
The strikes destroyed or damaged multiple ISIL targets in the vicinity of the towns of Ar Raqqah in north central Syria, Dayr az Zawr and Abu Kamal in eastern Syria and Al Hasakah in northeastern Syria. The targets included ISIL fighters, training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles, the news release said.
The United States employed 47 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, launched from the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Philippine Sea, which were operating from international waters in the Red Sea and North Arabian Gulf. In addition, U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fighters, bombers and remotely piloted aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations participated in the airstrikes.
Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also participated in or supported the airstrikes against ISIL targets. All aircraft safely exited the strike areas.
Also, in Iraq yesterday, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists, using attack aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. The airstrikes destroyed two ISIL Humvees, an ISIL armed vehicle and an ISIL fighting position southwest of Kirkuk. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely. To date, U.S. Central Command has conducted a total of 194 airstrikes across Iraq against ISIL.
The United States conducted these strikes as part of the President’s comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL. Going forward, the U.S. military will continue to conduct targeted airstrikes against ISIL in Syria and Iraq as local forces go on the offensive against this terrorist group, the release said.
Separately, the United States also took action to disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests conducted by a network of seasoned al-Qaida veterans known as the Khorasan Group. The group has established a safe haven in Syria to develop external attacks, construct and test improvised explosive devices and recruit Westerners to conduct operations, the release said. These strikes were undertaken only by U.S. assets.
In total, U.S. Central Command forces conducted eight strikes against Khorasan Group targets located west of Aleppo, to include training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communication building and command and control facilities.

… und ein Video eines Tomahawk-Starts:


(Direktlink: http://youtu.be/H9034BawdX4)

— ältere Infos:
Eine Sammlung der bisher bekannten Informationen:

Das Statement des Pentagon, veröffentlich vom US Central Command:

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 22, 2014 – The Department of Defense released the following statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby today:
„I can confirm that U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.“
„Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time. The decision to conduct theses strikes was made earlier today by the U.S. Central Command commander under authorization granted him by the commander in chief. We will provide more details later as operationally appropriate.“

Aus der  Zusammenfassung des Guardian:

The US stepped up its war against the Islamic State militant group, launching air strikes on targets in Syria for the first time.
The Pentagon press secretary, rear admiral John Kirby, confirmed that the US and allied nations sent fighter jets, bomber aircraft and Tomahawk missiles in an operation against Isis that he described as “ongoing”.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Raqqa, a Syrian stronghold of Isis, was among the targets of the operation, which began in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time.

und von 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. (…)
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.

Dann schauen wir mal, wie sich das weiter entwickelt.

 (Archivbild 2011: Start eines Tomahawk-Marschflugkörpers von der USS Barry – U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman)