Summary
The battle to defeat IS militants has extended to the Syrian territory. Backed by five Arab nations, the US launched overnight attacks on IS positions overnight in northern and Eastern Syria, including the militants headquarters in Raqa town. Dozens of militants were killed, and eye witnesses say that residents are fleeing from the city. The Syrian, government was informed of the attacks. According Abu Ibrahim, an activist with the “Raqa, is being Slaughtered Silently” Campaign, 18 airstrikes by four US was planes hit the city from 5 a.m. The targeted positions were military/security installations, including checkpoints, government buildings and an airbase. According to the US Central Command, the attacks damaged training facilities, command and control centres for the militants, vehicles and storage sites. An Armed Services Committee representative, Democratic Congressman, John Garamente is quoted by the report as saying that the involvement of the Gulf nations is invaluable, whatever their contribution to the war. He argues that the support is both symbolic and important since this is neither an American nor a European battle, but a battle by Muslim countries to root out extremism, since external involvement risks fuelling a further radicalism. The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus believes 14 airstrikes were conducted, but it is impossible to establish. He also argues that the attacks are meant at creating military conditions that will force a shift in the region, but says that airstrikes are limited in achieving such a goal.
Analysis
The accuracy of the reports as to the number of airstrikes is difficult to ascertain given the discrepancy between the information given by Abu Ibrahim and Jonathan Marcus, but there is a concurrence on the nature of targets hit. The targets were security/military instalments. There is, however, no reason to believe that the US Central Command or eyewitnesses such as Ibrahim are biased. It also comes clear in this report that while the US government is opposed to Assad’s leadership, it still informed Damascus of the attacks to ensure that its Gulf allies remained on board, while at once avoiding possible resistance from the Syrian Air Force. The assertion of the value of the five Arab nations in the campaign is absolutely correct, especially given the experience of the Coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the presence of westerners has been used to rally jihadi movements. Similarly, Marcus’ observations of the limitations of airstrikes, even with proper intelligence make sound sense. I believe airstrikes can only be effective if backed up by competent ground forces, who can clean up in the wake of a strike. Gorilla-like movements are impossible to defeat from the air.
References
Airstrikes on IS in Syria. BBC Global News. BBC World Service Radio, London. 23 Sept 2014.
