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Beginning in September 2014, the United States started plans to intervene in Syria against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). On 22 September 2014, the United States and Arab partners began to strike targets inside of Syria.
During the Arab Spring, peaceful protests against the Assad administration were suppressed and became violent. Islamist elements quickly came to dominate the rebellion. The most powerful rebel faction transformed into what would become the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Following the abduction of a number of foreigners in Syria, on 4 July 2014, U.S. air strikes were conducted against the ISIS military base known as the "Osama bin Laden Camp". At the same time, two dozen special operations members parachuted from helicopters near an ISIS building for high-valued prisoners. However, no prisoners were found in the building and the special forces members were soon engaged by ISIS forces from Ar-Raqqah and a three-hour firefight ensued. Eventually, U.S. forces came to the conclusion that the hostages were no longer at the site and abandoned the rescue attempt. At least 5 ISIS fighters were killed and a U.S soldier was wounded. Jordanian forces were also reportedly involved in the operation with one Jordanian soldier also wounded, but this was not confirmed. Later it was reported the hostages had been moved 24 hours before the attempted rescue. It remained unclear whether the operation failed due to bad intelligence or whether ISIS forces were alerted in advance of the mission.
In the aftermath of the operation, three hostages were executed over a one-month period: Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff and Briton David Haines.
Surveillance flights over Syria
On 26 August, the U.S. began sending surveillance flights, including drones, into Syria to gather intelligence on ISIS targets in Syria. The flights started gathering intelligence that would aid any future U.S. airstrikes, however airstrikes were not yet authorized. No approval was sought from the Syrian Arab Republic for the flights entering Syrian airspace.
At the direction of President Obama, the American Central Intelligence Agency played an active role since the early stages of the Syrian Civil War. The U.S. originally supplied the moderate rebels of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid but soon escalated to providing training, cash and intelligence to selected rebel commanders.
On 17 September, the House of Representatives voted to authorize the executive branch to train and arm Syrian rebels against ISIS forces. One of the groups that United States intends to train and arm is the Islamist Army of Mujahedeen.
Air campaign
Multi-national airstrikes
On 22 September, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed that the United States and other partner nations had undertaken strikes in Syria using fighter, bomber, and Tomahawk missile's authorized by President Barack Obama. The initial strikes were carried out and coordinated by United States Central Command and they targeted about 20 Islamic State targets, including headquarters buildings. Anti-Islamic State sources in Syria claimed that among the targets was also Brigade 93, a Syrian army base that the militants had recently captured and the towns of Tabqa and Tel Abyad in Raqqa province. In conjunction with the U.S. strikes, several Arab countries reportedly also began airstrikes in Syria, including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Al-Nusra Front and Khorasan Group have also been targeted in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates.
F-22 Raptor stealth fighters were reported to be among the U.S. aircraft striking targets in Syria on the first night of the campaign, carrying out their first combat missions since entering service in 2005.
At least 70 IS fighters, 50 fighters affiliated with al Qaeda and civilians were killed overnight by the strikes according to the SOHR. Eight strikes were launched against the group Khorasan.
Syrian government involvement
Syria's government did not request or approve the airstrikes, although it is fighting ISIS militants. Assad's military possesses sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles, mostly near the capital of Damascus and the border with Israel and not in ISIL controlled areas. Syria stated they were advised by the US the day before of the air strikes.
Foreign reactions
Russia - Alexander Lukashevich, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, opposed the U.S. intervention "without the consent of the legitimate government" and said that "this step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law".
Syria - Ali Haidar, Syrian minister of national reconciliation, said that "any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria".
United Nations - Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, welcomed the airstrikes against militans in Syria, but noted that the involved parties "must abide by international humanitarian law and take all precautions to avoid and minimize civilian casualties".
Netherlands - Mark Rutte, minister-president of the Netherlands, showed understanding for the strikes against the Islamic State in Syria and said that his government is currently exploring the options to contribute in the fight against IS.
This list includes World War I and later conflicts (after 1914) of at least 100 fatalities each Prolonged conflicts are listed in the decade when initiated; ongoing conflicts are marked italic, and conflicts with +100,000 killed with bold.
United States
Bahrain
Jordan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
UAE
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Abu Mohammad al-Golani
Russia - Alexander Lukashevich, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, opposed the U.S. intervention "without the consent of the legitimate government" and said that "this step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law".
Syria - Ali Haidar, Syrian minister of national reconciliation, said that "any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria".
United Nations - Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, welcomed the airstrikes against militans in Syria, but noted that the involved parties "must abide by international humanitarian law and take all precautions to avoid and minimize civilian casualties".
Netherlands - Mark Rutte, minister-president of the Netherlands, showed understanding for the strikes against the Islamic State in Syria and said that his government is currently exploring the options to contribute in the fight against IS.