American-led intervention in Syria

For the closely related operations in Iraq, see American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present).
American-led intervention in Syria
Part of the Military intervention against ISIL (Operation Inherent Resolve),
the Syrian Civil War, and the Second Cold War

Tomahawk missiles being fired from the warships USS Philippine Sea and USS Arleigh Burke at ISIL targets in Syria
Date22 September 2014 – present
(2 years, 2 months and 2 weeks)
LocationSyria
Status
  • Over 5,000 Coalition airstrikes hit ISIL positions[1]
  • Thousands of targets destroyed, thousands of ISIL fighters killed
  • ISIL reversals in several areas against the Kurds
  • Coalition supplying weapons and advisers to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Failure of US-backed rebel training program[2]
Belligerents

Coalition of foreign countries in air war
CJTF–OIR

Coalition forces-ground
 Iraqi Kurdistan (limited involvement)

Local ground forces
Syrian Democratic Forces

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[17]
[18][19][20]


al-Qaeda

Ahrar ash-Sham (disputed)[25][26]
Commanders and leaders

United States Barack Obama
United States Lloyd Austin
United States James L. Terry
United Kingdom David Cameron
United Kingdom Theresa May
United Kingdom Stephen Hillier
Turkey Recep T. Erdoğan
Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu
Turkey Ismet Yilmaz
Turkey Hulusi Akar
Australia Tony Abbott
Australia Malcolm Turnbull
Australia Trevor Jones
Australia David Johnston
France François Hollande
France Jean-Yves Le Drian
France Pierre de Villiers
Germany Angela Merkel
Germany Ursula von der Leyen
Germany Volker Wieker
Italy Matteo Renzi
Italy Claudio Graziano
Italy Roberta Pinotti
Jordan King Abdullah II
Jordan Abdullah Ensour
Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Al Saud (Died)
Saudi Arabia King Salman
Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud
Morocco King Mohammed VI
Morocco Abdelilah Benkirane
Morocco Bouchaib Arroub
United Arab Emirates Khalifa Al Nahyan
Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Qatar Tamim Al Thani
Qatar Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah
Rojava Salih Muslim Muhammad
Syria Albay Ahmed Berri
Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani
Canada Stephen Harper (until November 2015)
Canada Justin Trudeau (until February 2016)
Canada Thomas J. Lawson (until February 2016)

Canada Yvan Blondin (until February 2016)

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (WIA) (Leader)[27]
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Abu Alaa Afri 
(Deputy Leader of ISIL)[28][29]
Abu Mohammad al-Adnani  (Spokesperson)
Abu Ayman al-Iraqi  (Head of Military Shura)[30][31]
Abu Suleiman  (Replacement Military Chief)[31]
Abu Ali al-Anbari  (Deputy, Syria)
Akram Qirbash 
(Top ISIL judge)[29]
Abu Omar al-Shishani  (Chief commander in Syria) [32][33][34][35]
Abu Sayyaf  (Senior ISIL economic manager)[36]
Abu Khattab al-Kurdi  (Commander of the assault on Kobanî)[37][38]


Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Leader of the al-Nusra Front)
Abu Humam al-Shami  (al-Nusra Military Chief)[39]
Abu Hajer al-Homsi  (top al-Nusra military commander)[40]
Abu Firas al-Suri  (al-Nusra Spokesman)[41][42]
Abu Muhammed al Ansari 
(al-Nusra Emir of the Idlib Province)
Ahmad Salama Mabruk  (al-Nusra senior commander)[43]
Muhsin al-Fadhli  (Leader of Khorasan)[44][45][46]
Sanafi al-Nasr [47]
David Drugeon [45][48]
Said Arif  (Jund al-Aqsa Military Chief)[23]
Abu Jaber (2014–2015)[49][50]

Abu Yahia al-Hamawi (2015–present)[51]
Strength

Coalition forces: Coalition forces-air

Coalition forces-ground


Local forces

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant:


al-Qaeda:

  • al-Nusra Front: 10,000[68]
  • Khorasan: 50[78]
  • Jund al-Aqsa: 1,000[79]

Ahrar ash-Sham:

  • 10,000–20,000[80]
Casualties and losses

United States United States:

  • 1 Marine dead (non-combat)[81]
  • 4 Service members killed (3 killed by friendly-fire)[82]
  • 1 drone shot down by the Syrian Arab Republic[83]

Jordan Jordan:

Unknown:

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant:


al-Qaeda:

Ahrar ash-Sham:

Jaysh al-Sunna:

617 civilians killed by Coalition airstrikes[88]
2,142+ civilians killed by ISIL[90]
Over 420,000 civilians displaced or fled to other countries[91][92]
Number of militants killed possibly higher, due to them covering up their losses.[93]

During the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, the United States first supplied the rebels of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid (including food rations and pickup trucks), but quickly began providing training, cash, and intelligence to selected Syrian rebel commanders.

The United States began surveillance missions on ISIL positions in Syria in September 2014. On 10 September, President Barack Obama gave a speech indicating his intent to "degrade and ultimately destroy" Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying, "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq."[94]

On 22 September 2014, the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates began to strike targets of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) inside Syria,[17][95] as well as the Khorasan group in the Idlib Governorate to the west of Aleppo, and the al-Nusra Front around Ar-Raqqah,[24][96] as part of the Military intervention against ISIL.

On 2 November 2014, in response to the intervention, representatives from Ahrar ash-Sham attended a meeting with the al-Nusra Front, the Khorasan Group, the ISIL, and Jund al-Aqsa, which sought to unite several hard-line groups against the US-led coalition and other moderate Syrian rebel groups.[97] On 6 November, a US airstrike struck Ahrar ash-Sham at its headquarters in Idlib.[26] By 14 November 2014, it was revealed that the negotiations between al-Nusra, Jund al-Aqsa, ISIL and Ahrar ash-Sham had failed.[98]

Background

Further information: Arab Spring, Arab Winter, and Syrian Civil War

Following the start of the Arab Spring in 2011, protests in Syria against the Assad administration were suppressed and became violent.[99] In 2012, the al-Nusra Front was established by the Islamic State of Iraq as the official branch of al-Qaeda in Syria. The al-Nusra Front was eclipsed by its own creator, and al-Qaeda severed its ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle.[100]

Military situation in the Syrian Civil War as of 5 September 2016.
  Controlled by Syrian Government forces
  Controlled by Syrian Democratic Forces (Rojava)
  Controlled by al-Nusra Front
  Controlled by Syrian opposition forces

(For a more detailed map, see Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War)

Arming and training the Syrian opposition

Further information: Timber Sycamore
Further information: Syrian Train and Equip Program

At the direction of U.S. President Barack Obama, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was put in charge of the operations, worth about $1 billion annually, to arm anti-government forces in Syria,[101][102][103][104] an operation which began in 2013, more than two years after the start of the civil war in 2011. Prior to 2013, the CIA only supplied the apparently moderate rebels of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid, but later began providing training, cash, and intelligence to selected rebel commanders.[105][106][107]

While the CIA-run programs to arm and train Syrian opposition factions began 2013,[108] on 17 September 2014 the House of Representatives voted to authorize the executive branch to train-and-equip Syrian rebels against ISIL forces.[109] One of the groups that United States intended to train-and-equip was the Islamist Army of Mujahedeen[110][111] while the Harakat Hazm group was already being supplied.[110] There were indications that the Army of Mujahedeen was still being vetted for support.[112] The United States was set to send 400 troops and hundreds of support staff to countries neighboring Syria to train 5,000 opposition soldiers a year for the next three years.[113] The countries taking part in the train-and-equip program were to include Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.[114] The Pentagon confirmed that it had selected 1,200 Syrian opposition members to begin training in March 2015, with 3,000 to complete training by the end of 2015.[114] However of that number only about 200 actually began training, the majority of whom left after being required to agree to fight only against ISIL and not the Assad government.[115] As of mid-2015, only a group of 54 such fighters (Division 30) had been deployed, which was quickly routed by al-Nusra.[116]

The successful experience in Kobanî had informed U.S. policy in regards to arming Syrian opposition groups other than the Kurdish YPG, with plans to give other groups technicals equipped with radio and GPS equipment to call in airstrikes.[108] John R. Allen, President Obama's envoy to the international coalition against ISIL, has said "It is clearly part of our plan, that not only we will train them, and we will equip them with the latest weapons systems, but we will also protect them when the time comes," alluding to aiding the opposition with air support and no fly zones.[117] The United Kingdom announced it will send around 75 military instructors to train Syrian opposition forces.[118] The train-and-equip programme started on 9 May.[119] On 25 May, Turkey and the U.S. agreed "in principle" on the necessity to support these forces with air support.[120]

July 2014 rescue mission

Following the abduction of a number of foreigners in Syria, on 4 July 2014, the U.S. carried out an operation to rescue foreign hostages being held by ISIL. U.S. airstrikes were conducted against an ISIL military base known as the "Osama bin Laden Camp" while at the same time, two dozen special operations members parachuted from helicopters near an ISIS building for high-valued prisoners. No prisoners were found in the building and the special operations members were quickly engaged by ISIL forces dispatched from Ar-Raqqah, which started a three-hour firefight.[121] U.S. forces concluded that the hostages were no longer at the site and abandoned the rescue attempt. At least five ISIL fighters were killed and one U.S. soldier was wounded. Jordanian forces were also reportedly involved in the operation, with one Jordanian soldier reportedly wounded, but Jordanian involvement was not confirmed. Later on, it was reported that the hostages had been moved 24 hours before the attempted rescue.[121] Following the mission, it was still unclear whether the operation failed due to bad intelligence or whether ISIL forces were alerted in advance of the mission.[122]

Beheadings of Western hostages

In the aftermath of the rescue mission, and purportedly as a response to airstrikes in Iraq, ISIL beheaded three hostages over a one-month period: Americans James Foley on 19 August 2014,[121] Steven Sotloff on 2 September,[123] and Briton David Haines on 13 September.[124]

Surveillance flights over Syria

On 26 August 2014, the U.S. began sending surveillance flights, including drones, over Syria to gather intelligence on ISIL targets in Syria. The flights began gathering intelligence that would aid future airstrikes; however, airstrikes were not yet authorized at that point,[125] and no approval was sought from the Assad government for flights entering Syrian airspace.[126]

International coalitions against ISIL

On 5 September 15 September and 3 December 2014, different sets of countries came together to discuss concerted action against ISIL. Present at all three meetings were the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Turkey and Denmark.

The coalition of 5 September (10 countries) decided to support anti-ISIL forces in Iraq and Syria.[127]
A coalition of 3 December 2014 (59 countries) agreed on a many-sided strategy against ISIL, including cutting off ISIL’s financing and funding and exposing ISIL’s true nature.[128]

Training Syrian moderate opposition to fight ISIL

In late 2013 the United States began a program to train and equip Syrian "moderate rebels". In July 2015 the first class of 54 US-backed rebels were inserted into Syria from Turkey. Within days, virtually all of the US-backed rebels were dead or missing, and their leader had been captured by the Al-Queda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.[129]

In March 2015, the United Kingdom announced that it would provide military training to Syrian moderate opposition forces, to enable them to defend Syrian communities against ISIL, and later also lead offensives against ISIL.[130]

Jane's Defence Weekly reported that in December 2015 the U.S. shipped 994 tonnes of weapons and ammunition (including packaging and container weight), generally of Soviet-type from Easter Europe, to Syrian rebel groups under operation Timber Sycamore. A detailed list of weapon types and shipment weights had been obtained from the US government's Federal Business Opportunities website.[131][132]

Multinational air war

Preparations for American airstrikes

In his address to the nation on 10 September 2014, U.S. President Obama announced his intention to bomb ISIL targets in Syria and called on Congress to authorize a program to train and arm rebels who were fighting ISIL and the Syrian forces of Bashar al-Assad.[133] For the first time, he authorized direct attacks against the militant group in Syria. In his address, he said the United States were going on offensive, launching "a steady, relentless effort to take out" the group "wherever they exist." Obama also announced creating of a broader coalition against ISIL.[134]

Commenting on Obama's address, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich opposed the U.S. intervention against ISIL in Syria "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". 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".[135]

On 17 September, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Obama's plan to train and arm the Syrian rebels in their fight against ISIL. In a statement following the House vote, Obama said that the United States wouldn't send military troops to Syria.[136] The Senate gave final congressional approval to Obama's proposal the next day.[137]

The U.S. did not request permission from the Syrian government, nor did it coordinate its actions with the Syrian government, provide direct notification to the Syrian military or give indication of timing on specific targets, but it did notify the Syrian U.N. representative, which the Syrian government confirmed.[138]

Before the airstrikes began, the United States also informed Iran, the Assad government's largest regional ally, of their intention to launch airstrikes. It did not share specific timing or targets of strikes with the Iranian government but reportedly assured it that the US would not strike any Syrian government targets.[139]

Contributing countries

Timeline

Map of the first round of U.S. and coalition strikes in Syria

September 2014

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 fighters, bombers, and Tomahawk missiles in strikes authorized by President Barack Obama.[141] Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were identified as countries conducting or supporting airstrikes the first night.[10] The initial strikes were coordinated by United States Central Command[13] and targeted about 20 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets, including headquarters buildings.[142] Sources in Syria claimed that among the targets was also Brigade 93, a Syrian army base that the militants had recently captured and targets in the towns of Tabqa and Tel Abyad in Ar-Raqqah Province.[143]

A Tomahawk cruise missile launching from the USS Arleigh Burke to strike ISIL targets in Syria on 23 September

The US also targeted the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Khorasan Group[144] in the Aleppo and Idlib Governorates of Syria.[145]

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 ever since entering service in 2005.[54]

At least 70 ISIL fighters, 50 fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda, and an unknown number of civilians were killed overnight by the airstrikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights while eight strikes were launched against the Khorasan group.[146]

On 24 September, the United States and coalition partners conducted a second round of airstrikes on ISIL facilities in Syria. The airstrikes were targeting oil production facilities controlled by ISIL who had been using the oil in order to fund their activities. Some targets were apparently also mobile production facilities which were most likely not refineries.[147]

In a third round of airstrikes on ISIL targets on 25 September, Arab partners lead the United States in strikes against militant-held oil facilities in northeastern Syria. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates dropped 80 percent of the bomb tonnage in the third round of strikes, compared to other strikes in which the United States lead Arab partners.[148]

On 26 September, the United States carried out a fourth round of airstrikes on ISIL targets in Eastern Syria. The strikes were targeting IS heavy equipment and destroyed four of their tanks in the Deir ez-Zor Province.[149]

In a fifth round of airstrikes in Syria on 27 September, the United States lead strikes along with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates against ISIL forces in the Kobanî Canton of Syrian Kurdistan. The strikes destroyed two armored vehicles and an unknown number of fighters in an area that had been put under siege by ISIL militants. The siege by Islamic State fighters had recently forced over 100,000 Syrian Kurds to flee across the border to Turkey.[150]

On 28 and 29 September, the United States carried out two rounds of strikes against IS positions across Syria in 4 provinces. Among the facilities targeted was the entrance to the largest gas plant in Syria, in the Deir ez-Zor Province, and ISIL training camp and vehicles near an ISIL controlled grain silo in Manbij, Aleppo province.[151]

October 2014

In an eighth round of airstrikes in Syria on 1 October, the United States and coalition partners struck ISIL targets in Northern Syria. The daytime strikes targeted ISIL forces laying siege to Kobanî, a primarily Kurdish city in Syrian Kurdistan, in support of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army, who were defending the city.[152]

FA-18 Hornets takes off from USS George H.W. Bush to strike ISIL targets in Syria

On 2 October, the United States lead a ninth round of strikes, along with the United Arab Emirates, against ISIL forces across Syria. The strikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint near Kobanî, damaged a tank north of Sinjar Mountain, destroyed a tank west of Ar-Raqqah, and several ISIL facilities east of Aleppo.[153]

In a tenth round of airstrikes in Syria on 3 October, the United States, assisted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates struck ISIL forces in Northern and Eastern Syria. The strikes destroyed an ISIL garrison south of Al-Hasakah, destroyed two tanks southeast of Deir ez-Zor, destroyed two modular oil refineries and a training camp south of Ar-Raqqah, and struck an ISIL building northeast of Aleppo.[154]

On 4 October, the United States lead an 11th round of airstrikes, along with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, against ISIL forces across Syria. The US and partner nations carried out nine strikes, destroying an ISIL infantry unit, armored personnel carrier, and a vehicle south of Kobanî, destroying a tank and a vehicle southeast of Deir ez-Zor, damaging the Taqba airfield and destroying an artillery piece near Ar-Raqqah, as well as destroying an IS depot and logistics complex south of Al-Hasakah.[155]

In a 12th round of airstrikes in Syria on 5 October, the United States carried out three airstrikes against ISIL forces in Central and Eastern Syria. The strikes destroyed an ISIL bulldozer, two ISIL tanks and another vehicle northwest of Al Mayadin, and destroyed six firing positions and a large ISIL unit northwest of Ar-Raqqah.[156]

On 6 October, the United States carried out a 13th round of airstrikes in Syria against ISIL forces across Syria. The strikes destroyed an ISIL tank near Taqba airfield west of Ar-Raqqah, destroyed two fighting positions south of Kobanî, and destroyed a tank southeast of Deir ez-Zor.[157]

In a 14th round of airstrikes in Syria on 7 October, the United States, assisted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against ISIL forces across Syria. The United States and partner nations carried out nine strikes damaging multiple ISIL controlled buildings west of Al-Hasakah, damaging a staging area and IED production facility northeast of Deir ez-Zor, destroying three armed vehicles, damaging one armed vehicle, destroying a vehicle carrying anti-aircraft artillery, destroying an ISIL tank, and an ISIL unit in and around Kobanî, and killing a small group of fighters southwest of Rabiyah.[158]

On 8 October, the United States lead a 15th round of airstrikes along with the United Arab Emirates against ISIL forces across Syria. The US and the United Arab Emirates carried out nine strikes destroying an armored personnel carrier, four armed vehicles, an artillery piece, and damaged another armed vehicle in and around Kobanî, striking an ISIL training camp and fighters northwest of Ar-Raqqah, and destroying a tank northwest of Deir ez-Zor.[159]

In a 16th round of airstrikes in Syria on 9 October, the United States carried out nine airstrikes in the areas in and around the border town of Kobanî that is under siege. The US carried out six airstrikes south of Kobanî that destroyed two ISIL-held buildings, one tank and one heavy machine gun along, a fighting position along with one large and two small ISIL units. Along with strikes south of Kobanî, the US carried out three airstrikes north of Kobanî which struck two small ISIL units and destroyed two ISIL-held buildings.[160]

A before and after picture of an ISIL command and control center, after an F-22 airstrike on 23 September

On 10 October, the United States led a 17th round of airstrikes along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against ISIL forces across Syria. The US and coalition partners carried out nine strikes, destroying two ISIL training facilities, three vehicles, damaging a tank and striking two ISIL units in and around Kobanî. The strikes also destroyed an armored vehicle staging facility east of Deir ez-Zor and struck a small ISIL unit northeast of Al-Hasakah.[161]

In an 18th round of airstrikes in Syria on 11 October, the United States carried out six airstrikes in and around the border town of Kobanî that is under siege by ISIL forces. The US carried out four strikes north of Kobanî striking a fighting position, damaging a command and control facility, destroying a staging building, and striking two small ISIL units. South of Kobanî, two airstrikes destroyed three trucks.[162]

On 12 October, the United States led a 19th round of airstrikes along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against ISIL forces across Syria. The US and partner nations carried out four strikes, three in Kobanî, destroying a fighting position and a staging area, and one strike northwest of Ar-Raqqah, destroying an armored vehicle compound.[163]

Also, on 12 October, the United States announced that the Turkish government had approved the use of Turkish military bases by coalition forces fighting ISIL in Syria and Iraq. These installations will include key bases only 160 km (100 mi) from the Syrian border and important US military bases in Turkey such as the Incirlik Air Base.[164][165] Despite the announcement of Turkish government approval, on 13 October, Turkish officials denied that any agreement had been made over coalition use of Turkish Airbases including Incirlik.[166]

In a 20th round of airstrikes in Syria on 13 October, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out eight airstrikes against ISIL forces in Syria. The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out seven strikes in and around Kobanî, striking a large ISIL unit, two small units; damaging one staging location and destroying another, destroying a heavy-machine-gun firing position, destroying three buildings, and damaging two others. One other strike northwest of Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL garrison.[167]

On 14 October, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out the 21st round and the largest set of strikes against ISIL in Syria since the beginning of the intervention, with 21 strikes against targets in and around Kobanî, and an additional strike near Deir ez-Zor. According to the Department of Defense, the strikes were designed to interdict ISIL reinforcements and resupply zones and prevent ISIL from massing combat power on the Kurdish held portions of Kobanî. The strikes destroyed two staging locations and damaged another, destroyed one ISIL building and damaged two others, damaged three ISIL compounds, destroyed one truck, one armed vehicle, and one other vehicle near Kobanî] in support of Kurdish forces resisting the |siege of the town. In addition to those targets, the airstrikes struck seven staging areas, two mortar positions, three ISIL occupied buildings, and an artillery storage facility. An additional strike near Deir ez-Zor struck a modular oil refinery.[168]

A F/A-18 Super Hornet taking off from USS Carl Vinson before carrying out strikes on ISIL targets in Syria

In a 22nd round of airstrikes on 15 October, the United States carried out 18 strikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed multiple fighting positions and also successfully struck sixteen ISIL-occupied buildings.[169]

On 16 October, the United States carried out a 23rd round of airstrikes with 14 airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî striking nineteen ISIL controlled-buildings, two command posts, three fighting positions, three sniper positions, one staging location, and one heavy machine gun position.[170]

In a 24th round of airstrikes on 17 October, the United States carried out seven airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî and in north-eastern Syria. Six airstrikes took place near Kobanî, striking three ISIL controlled buildings; destroyed two fighting positions, suppressed three fighting positions, and destroyed two vehicles. One other airstrike near Al-Shaddadi struck ISIL-controlled oil collection equipment, including several petroleum, oil, and lubricants tanks, and a pump station.[171]

On 20 October, the United States carried out a 25th round of airstrikes, with six airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed ISIL fighting positions, ISIL mortar positions, a vehicle, and one stray equipment supply bundle from a U.S. airdrop of Kurdish supplies in order to prevent the supplies from being captured.[172]

In a 26th round of airstrikes on 21 October, the United States carried out four airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed several ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL controlled building, and a large ISIL unit.[173] The British Royal Air Force began operating over Syria in a surveillance role on the same date, making the UK the first Western country other than the United States to operate in both Iraq and Syria simultaneously.[65]

On 22 October, the United States carried out a 27th round of airstrikes with six airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed several ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL controlled building and an ISIL logistical center.[174]

In a 28th round of airstrikes on 23 October, the United States carried out six airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Four strikes destroyed several ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL command and control center near Kobanî. Two strikes east of Deir ez-Zor destroyed several ISIL oil holding tanks.[175]

On 24 October, the United States carried out a 29th round of airstrikes with six airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck three ISIL units.[176]

In a 30th round of airstrikes on 25 October, the United States carried out one strike near Kobanî, destroying an ISIL artillery piece.[177]

On 26 October, the United States carried out a 31st round of airstrikes with five airstrikes against ISIL targets near Kobanî, destroying seven ISIL vehicles and an ISIL-controlled building.[178]

An F-22 Raptor being refueled prior to an airstrike on ISIL targets in Syria

In a 32nd round of airstrikes on 27 October, the United States carried out four strikes near Kobanî, destroying five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL occupied building.[179]

On 28 October, the United States carried out a 33rd round of airstrikes, with four airstrikes against ISIL targets near Kobanî, destroying four ISIL fighting positions and a small ISIL unit.[180]

In a 34th round of airstrikes on 29 October, the United States carried out eight airstrikes in and around Kobanî. The strikes destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, a small ISIL unit, six ISIL vehicles, an ISIL controlled building, and an ISIL command and control node.[181]

On 30 October, the United States carried out a 35th round of airstrikes, with 12 airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî, and against targets near Deir ez-Zor and Ar-Raqqah. Ten strikes near Kobanî struck two small ISIL units, destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, and five ISIL controlled buildings. One strike near Deir ez-Zor damaged an ISIL headquarters building while another strike near Ar-Raqqah damaged an ISIL security building.[182]

In a 36th round of airstrikes on 31 October, the United States carried out four airstrikes in and around Kobanî, damaging four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL controlled building.[183]

November 2014

On 1 November, the United States carried out a 37th round of airstrikes with five airstrikes against ISIL targets in and around Kobanî. The strikes suppressed or destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, and struck one ISIL-controlled building.[184]

In a 38th round of airstrikes on 2 November, the United States carried out seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Five airstrikes in and around Kobanî struck five small ISIL units and destroyed three ISIL vehicles. Two airstrikes southeast of Deir ez-Zor destroyed an ISIL tank and two vehicle shelters.[184]

On 3 November, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 39th round of airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Four airstrikes in and around Kobanî struck an ISIL fighting position, a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL controlled buildings. One airstrike near Deir ez-Zor damaged an ISIL controlled building.[184]

In a 40th round of airstrikes on 4 and 5 November, the United States carried out six airstrikes in and around Kobanî and north of Sinjar just across the Iraqi-Syrian border into Syria. Three airstrikes in and around Kobanî struck a small ISIL unit, two ISIL fighting positions, and an ISIL dump truck that was used in the construction of fighting positions. One airstrike north of Sinjar destroyed an ISIL fighting position used to launch mortar attacks, and struck a small ISIL unit manning the position. Two additional strikes north of Sinjar struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle.[185]

The USS Carl Vinson and support ships deployed for combat operations in Syria and Iraq.

On 6 and 7 November, the United States carried out a 41st round of airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Tal Abyad. Seven strikes in and around Kobanî struck three small ISIL units, seven ISIL fighting positions, and destroyed an ISIL artillery piece. One airstrike near Tal Abyad destroyed an ISIL weapons stockpile.[186]

In a 42nd round of airstrikes between 8 and 10 November, the United States carried out 23 airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Thirteen airstrikes conducted in and around Kobanî struck an ISIL vehicle and five small ISIL units, destroyed an ISIL-occupied building used as an ammunition stockpile, an ISIL command and control building, and seven ISIL fighting positions, as well as damaging two ISIL fighting positions. In addition, eight airstrikes southeast of Deir ez-Zor damaged several structures of an ISIL oil collection facility, which was used to trans-load oil for the black market, while two airstrikes east of Deir ez-Zor damaged an ISIL oil collection point.[187]

Between 11 and 12 November, the United States carried out a 43rd round of airstrikes with sixteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Deir ez-Zor, and near Al-Hasakah. Ten airstrikes conducted in and around Kobanî struck eight small ISIL units, damaged three ISIL fighting positions, and destroyed an ISIL logistics facility. Four airstrikes near Deir ez-Zor damaged an ISIL crude oil collection facility, struck a small ISIL unit, and damaged an ISIL vehicle. Two airstrikes near Al-Hasakah damaged a crude oil collection point.[188]

In a 44th round of airstrikes between 13 and 14 November, the United States carried out 20 airstrikes in and around Kobanî, east of Deir ez-Zor, west of Aleppo, and east of Ar-Raqqah. Seventeen airstrikes conducted in and around Kobanî struck ten ISIL units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, an ISIL controlled building, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL motorcycle. One airstrike east of Ar-Raqqah destroyed an ISIL training camp and another airstrike east of Deir ez-Zor destroyed an ISIL oil collection point. One other airstrike west of Aleppo struck militants associated with the Khorasan group.[189]

Between 15 and 17 November, the United States carried out a 45th round of airstrikes with eleven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Nine airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, suppressed an ISIL fighting position, destroyed four ISIL staging areas, and struck one tactical ISIL unit. Two airstrikes near Deir ez-Zor struck an ISIL crude oil collection facility and destroyed one ISIL tank.[184]

In a 46th round of airstrikes between 18 and 19 November, the United States carried out seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî, southeast of Al-Hasakah, and near Hazm. Five airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL staging area and three ISIL controlled buildings, suppressed two ISIL fighting positions, struck two tactical ISIL units, and a large ISIL unit. One airstrike southeast of Al-Hasakah damaged a crude oil collection point operated by ISIL while another airstrike near Hazm struck and destroyed a storage facility associated with the Khorasan Group.[190]

Between 20 and 21 November, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 47th round of airstrikes with seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Ar-Raqqah. Six airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed four ISIL staging areas, two ISIL controlled buildings, two ISIL tactical units, and suppressed an ISIL fighting position. One airstrike near Ar-Raqqah damaged an ISIL barracks building.[184]

In a 48th round of airstrikes between 22 and 24 November, the United States and coalition partners carried out nine airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Ar-Raqqah. Seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed three ISIL fighting positions along with two ISIL staging areas, damaged an ISIL staging area, and suppressed four ISIL fighting positions. Two strikes near Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL headquarters building.[191]

Between 25 and 26 November, the United States carried out a 49th round of airstrikes with ten airstrikes in and around Kobanî striking an ISIL fighting position, a large ISIL unit, two tactical ISIL units, and destroying four ISIL staging areasand six ISIL fighting positions.[192]

In a 50th round of airstrikes between 27 and 28 November, the United States carried out two airstrikes near Kobanî and Aleppo. One airstrike near Kobanî struck an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL staging area while one airstrike near Aleppo struck a tactical ISIL unit.[184]

A coalition airstrike on ISIL positions in Kobanî.

Between 29 November and 1 December, the United States carried out a 51st round of airstrikes with 27 airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Ar-Raqqah, and near Aleppo. Seventeen airstrikes near Kobanî destroyed two ISIL-occupied buildings, three ISIL tanks, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL armored personnel carrier, three ISIL vehicles and two ISIL staging areas. It also struck seven tactical ISIL units, targeted six ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL controlled building. Nine airstrikes near Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL electronic warfare garrison, an ISIL military garrison, an ISIL headquarters building, an ISIL jamming system, an ISIL tank and fourteen ISIL vehicles while one airstrike near Aleppo struck a target associated with the Khorasan Group.[193]

December 2014

In a 52nd round of airstrikes between 1 and 3 December, the United States carried out fourteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroying an ISIL vehicle, seventeen ISIL fighting positions, and an ISIL staging area, and suppressed eight other fighting positions and striking a large ISIL unit.[194]

Between 4 and 8 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 53rd round of airstrikes with fifteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Ar-Raqqah. Fourteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL-occupied buildings, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL tanks, an ISIL motorcycle, a mortar, and struck eight tactical ISIL units along with two ISIL fighting positions. One airstrike near Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL electronic warfare garrison.[195]

In a 54th round of airstrikes between 9 and 10 December, the United States carried out seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroying five ISIL fighting positions, striking three ISIL fighting positions, and striking a large ISIL unit.[196]

Between 11 and 12 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 55th round of airstrikes with seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Aleppo, and near Al-Qa'im. Five airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and struck one ISIL fighting position. One airstrike near Aleppo struck five ISIL-occupied buildings while another airstrike near Al-Qa'im on the Syrian border destroyed two ISIL fortifications.[197]

In a 56th round of airstrikes between 13 and 15 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out nine airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Al-Bukamal. Eight airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL controlled buildings, and two ISIL staging positions as well as striking one ISIL fighting position. One airstrike near Al-Bukamal destroyed an ISIL vehicle.[198]

Between 16 and 17 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 57th round of airstrikes with six airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Al-Bukamal. Five airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed an ISIL controlled building, one ISIL staging area, one ISIL bunker, and an ISIL mortar, and strucktwo ISIL tactical units, two additional buildings, and two ISIL fighting positions. One airstrike near Al-Bukamal destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.[199]

In a 58th round of airstrikes on 18 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out six airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroying seven ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL building, and struckj an ISIL tactical unit.[200]

An F-16 Fighting Falcon being refueled after an airstrike on ISIL targets in Syria

On 19 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 59th round of airstrikes with four strikes in and around Kobanî and near Ar-Raqqah. Three airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed two ISIL controlled buildings and an ISIL staging area as well as striking two ISIL tactical units. One airstrike near Ar-Raqqah damaged an ISIL training compound.[201]

In a 60th round of airstrikes on 20 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out five airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroying eight ISIL fighting positions.[184]

On 21 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 61st round of airstrikes with three strikes in and around Kobanî destroying an ISIL staging position and two ISIL fighting positions as well as striking two ISIL fighting positions.[184]

In a 62nd round of airstrikes on 22 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out 12 airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Aleppo, near Al-Hasakah, and near Ar-Raqqah. Six airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed six ISIL fighting positions and struck four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL tactical unit. Three airstrikes near Aleppodestroyed artillery equipment and struck 10 ISIL buildings, two airstrikes near Al-Hasakah destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, two ISIL trucks, an ISIL building, and two ISIL storage containers, and one airstrike near Ar-Raqqah destroyed an ISIL checkpoint complex.[202]

On 23 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 63rd round of airstrikes with seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Bargooth. Six airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL building and struck several ISIL fighting positions and one airstrike near Barghooth struck ISIL oil collection equipment.[203]

In a 64th round of airstrikes on 24 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out ten airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Deir ez-Zor, and near Ar-Raqqah. Eight airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL building, an ISIL staging position, and struck three ISIL tactical units, an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL fighting position. One airstrike near Deir ez-Zor struck a crude oil collection point and another airstrike near Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL weapons stockpile.[184]

On 25 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 65th round of airstrikes with fifteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Al-Hasakah, and near Ar-Raqqah. Thirteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed three ISIL buildings, one ISIL vehicle, 17 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL staging positions as well as striking two ISIL fighting positions, three large ISIL units and four ISIL tactical units. One airstrike near Al-Hasakah struck an ISIL drilling tower and destroyed 2 ISIL support vehicles and another airstrike near Ar-Raqqah struck an ISIL assembly area.[184]

In a 66th round of airstrikes on 26 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out four airstrikes in and around Kobanî, destroying three ISIL buildings and two ISIL vehicles.[184]

On 29 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 67th round of airstrikes with twelve airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Deir ez-Zor, and near Ar-Raqqah. Ten airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed 11 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL buildings, and an ISIL storage container, and struck an ISIL tactical unit. One airstrike near Deir ez-Zor struck several ISIL controlled buildings while another airstrike near Ar-Raqqah also struck several ISIL controlled buildings.[204]

In a 68th round of airstrikes on 30 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Deir ez-Zor. Six airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed three ISIL buildings, damaged one ISIL building, and struck an ISIL tactical unit while one airstrike near Deir ez-Zor destroyed an ISIL shipping container.[205]

On 31 December, the United States and coalition partners carried out a 69th round of airstrikes with seven airstrikes in and around Kobanî and near Al-Hasakah. Five airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed five ISIL buildings and six ISIL fighting positions while two airstrikes near Al-Hasakah destroyed four oil derricks controlled by ISIL.[206]

January 2015

In a 70th round of airstrikes on 1 January, the United States and coalition partners carried out 17 airstrikes in and around Kobanî, near Deir ez-Zor, and near Ar-Raqqah. Thirteen airstrikes in and around Kobanî destroyed 12 ISIL controlled buildings, four ISIL fighting positions, one ISIL vehicle as well as striking two ISIL tactical units and two large ISIL units. Two airstrikes near Ar-Raqqah destroyed five ISIL checkpoints and struck an ISIL staging area, while two airstrikes near Deir ez-Zor destroyed an ISIL fighting position and struck an ISIL shipping container.[184]

February 2015

On 5 February 2015, Jordan elevated its role in the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, launching one of the largest airstrike campaigns since early January 2015, targeting ISIL militants near Ar-Raqqah, the de facto ISIL capital, inflicting an unknown number of casualties and damaging ISIL facilities. This was done in retaliation against ISIL's brutal murder of Muath al-Kasasbeh.[207][208]

On 6 February, a continued round of Coalition airstrikes at Ar-Raqqah killed over 30 ISIL militants.[209]

On 21 February, Syrian Kurds launched an offensive to retake ISIL-held territories in the Al-Hasakah Governorate, specifically in the Tell Hamis area, with support from US airstrikes. At least 20 villages were liberated, and 12 militants were killed in the clashes.[210] In response, on 23 February, ISIL abducted 150 Assyrian Christians from villages near Tal Tamr (Tell Tamer) in northeastern Syria, after launching a large offensive in the region.[211][212]

As a result of ISIL's massive offensive in the west Al-Hasakah Governorate, the US-led coalition increased the number of airstrikes in the region to 10, on 24 February, in order to halt the ISIL advance. The airstrikes struck nine ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles.[184]

On 26 February, the number of Assyrian Christians abducted by ISIL from villages in northeastern Syria from 23–25 February rose to at least 220, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a monitoring group based in Britain.[213][214]

On 27 February, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Kurdish fighters had recaptured the town of Tal Hamis, along with most of the villages occupied by ISIL in the region. At least 127 ISIL militants were killed in the clashes, along with 30 YPG and allied fighters.[215] One Australian volunteer, who was fighting for the YPG, was also killed.[216] Many of the remaining ISIL militants retreated to Tell Brak, which quickly came under assault from the YPG and allied Arab fighters.

March 2015

On 1 March 2015, YPG fighters, aided by US airstrikes, were able to drive ISIL militants out of Tell Brak, reducing the ISIL occupation in the eastern Jazira Canton to the villages between Tell Brak and Tal Hamis.[217]

On 6 March, it was reported that Abu Humam al-Shami, al-Nusra's military chief, was killed in a US airstrike targeting a meeting of top al-Nusra leaders, at the al-Nusra Front's new headquarters at Salqin.[39]

On 9 March, the US carried out another airstrike on the al-Nusra Front, targeting a military camp near Atimah, close to the Turkish border in the Idlib Governorate. The airstrike left 9 militants dead.[218]

On 24 March, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada would be looking to expand Operation Impact to include airstrikes against ISIL in Syria as well.

On 26 March, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence announced the deployment of around 75 military trainers and headquarter staff to Turkey, and other nearby countries in the anti-ISIL coalition, to assist with the U.S.-led training programme in Syria. The training programme will provide small arms, infantry tactics and medical training to Syrian moderate opposition forces for over three years.[130]

On 30 March, the House of Commons of Canada authorized the extended deployment of its military for one year and the war in Syria.[219]

April 2015

On 8 April, Canada initiated airstrikes in Syria, with two CF-18 fighters bombing a former military installation of the Syrian government that was captured by ISIL, near its headquarters in ar-Raqqah.[219]

May 2015

On 15 May, after surveillance by British special forces confirmed the presence of a senior leader named Abu Sayyaf in al-Amr,[220] 1st SFOD-Delta operators from the Joint Special Operations Command based in Iraq conducted an operation to capture him. The operation resulted in his death when he tried to engage U.S. forces in combat and the capture of his wife Umm Sayyaf. The operation also led to the freeing of a Yazidi woman who was held as a slave. About a dozen ISIL fighters were also killed in the raid, two U.S. officials said. The SOHR reported that an additional 19 ISIL fighters were killed in the US airstrikes that accompanied the raid. One official said that ISIL Forces fired at the U.S. aircraft, and there was reportedly hand-to-hand combat during the raid. UH-60 Black Hawk and V-22 Osprey helicopters were used to conduct the raid, and Umm Sayyaf is currently being held by U.S. Forces in Iraq.[36][221][222]

July 2015

Following a suicide bombing in the Şanlıurfa Province of Turkey believed to have been carried out by ISIL militants on 20 July, as well as an ISIL cross-border attack that killed a Turkish serviceman on 23 July, Turkish armour and aircraft struck ISIL targets just across the border in Syria. Turkey also agreed to let the United States use the USAF Incirlik Air Base for strikes against ISIL.[12][223]

August 2015

On 21 August, three Islamic State fighters, two with UK nationality, were targeted and killed in Raqqa, Syria by a British Royal Air Force MQ-9 Reaper strike. Prime Minister David Cameron gave a statement to Parliament that one of the British nationals targeted had been plotting attacks in the United Kingdom. Another British national was killed in a separate air strike by US forces in Raqqa on 24 August.[224]

October 2015

50 U.S. Special forces operators were deployed to northern Syria to help train and coordinate anti-IS forces in the region.[225]

The introduction of Russian aircraft and ship based cruise missiles in support of the Syrian Government to Syrian airspace creates new threats to the US-led coalition. Discussions are held to deconflict Syrian airspace.

On 10 October, the state run Syrian Arab News Agency reported claims that two U.S. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon jets had "violated Syrian airspace" and bombed two electricity power plants in al-Rudwaniya, east Aleppo, "in breach of international law".[226]

On 20 October Canada's Prime Minister elect Justin Trudeau informed Barack Obama by phone of Canada's intention to pull out of bombing raids in Syria. Canada will remain a coalition partner but will stop strikes.[227]

November 2015

After the deadly attacks in Paris, French President Francois Hollande sent its only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, with its 26 fighters to intensify air strikes.[228]

On 27 November, Syrian Arab News Agency reported The US-led international coalition, allegedly fighting ISIS, targeted water pumping stations in al-Khafseh area, east of Aleppo, causing them to go out of service.[229][230] According to Bellingcat investigation it was Russian MoD bombing[231]

December 2015

On 2 December 2015, the Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom voted 397 to 223 in favour of airstrikes in Syria.[232] Within hours, RAF Tornado jets carried out their first air strikes, targeting the Omar oil fields in eastern Syria, which is under IS control.[233]

On 6 December 2015, a Syrian Arab Army base at Deir ez-Ezzor was struck, killing at least 1 Syrian Arab Army soldier, with reports circulating that as many as 4 were killed, 13 wounded and 2 tanks destroyed. Syria accused the US of conducting the strike, however US officials denied this, claiming instead that the bombing was a mistake by Russians.[234]

After the airstrikes, ISIS forces began to attack the base.[235]

March 2016

On 4 March, a US-led coalition airstrike targeted Omar al-Shishani, a top ISIS group commander, who was travelling in a jihadist’s convoy near al-Shadad in north-east Syria, the strike injured him and he later died on his injuries,[236][237][238] However this was later revealed to be incorrect, he was actually killed in an airstrike in Iraq in July 2016.[239] Also that day, 100 ISIS militants assaulted Peshmerga lines in Syria, U.S. Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV helped the Peshmerga to repel the attack, as ISIS fighters sent a car bomb towards him, Keating led a team to counterattack with sniper and rocket fire. For his actions during the battle he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.[240]

On 24 March, U.S. special operations forces conducted an operation with the intent of capturing Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli in Syria. Al-Qaduli, who was the 6th-most-wanted terrorist in the world and is considered by analysts as the second-in-command of ISIS, he acted as the group's finance minister and was involved in external plots, he also temporarily commanded ISIS after its commander was injured. U.S. special forces inserted by helicopter and lay in wait for him to intercept his vehicle; the operators attempted to capture him but the situation escalated and at the last moment, they decided to fire on the vehicle instead, killing al-Qaduli and 3 other militants.[236][237][241][242]

April 2016

On 25 April, it was reported that President Obama authorized the deployment of additional 250 special operations forces soldiers to Syria in the following weeks, they will join the 50 that are already in the country, their main aim is to advise, assist and expand the ongoing effort to bring more Syrian Arab fighters into units the U.S. supports in northern Syria to combat ISIL.[243][244]

May 2016

In late May, more than a dozen U.S. special forces were pictured in a Fatisah less than 64 km (40 mi) north of Raqqa and fighting near the front lines with the YPG and wearing both YPG and US insignia on their military uniforms; helping them and other local SDF forces with fire support and coordinating airstrikes from behind the front lines in their advance toward Raqqa. However, the Pentagon and White House insist that the troops are not fighting ISIS on the front lines and are still participating in a non-combat mission known as “train, advise and assist.”[245][246][247]

Also in late May, a U.S. special forces operator was wounded north of Raqqa by indirect IS rocket or mortar fire.[248][249]

The telegraph reported that British special forces have been operating on the frontline in Syria; in particular in May when they frequently crossed the border from Jordan to defend a NSA (New Syrian Army) unit composed of former Syrian special forces as it defends the village of al-Tanf against ISIL attacks. They mostly help the unit with logistics like building defences and making bunkers safe, the NSA captured the village that month and faced regular IS attacks, an ISIL armoured vehicle packed with explosives drove into the rebels' base and killed 11 members of the NSA, injuring 17 others. The wounded were CASEVAC'd by US helicopters to Jordan; the suicide attack damaged the structure of the al-Tanf base, British troops crossed over from Jordan to help them to rebuild their defences.[250][251]

June 2016

On 1 June, a senior defense official told Fox News that a "thousands"-strong SDF force consisting of Sunni Arab fighter and a small contingent of Kurdish fighters (mainly from the YPG) with assistance by U.S. special forces operators and U.S. fighter jets launched an operation to recapture the key ISIS-held town of Manbij in northern Syria, 32 km (20 mi) from the border with Turkey. Islamic State used the town to move supplies and foreign fighters into Syria from Turkey, in the 24 hours since the start of offensive, 18 U.S. airstrikes destroyed ISIS headquarters buildings, weapons caches, training areas, six bridges and an unknown number of ISIS fighters were killed, however 15 civilians killed.[248][252] By 9 June, The U.S. Central Command said the coalition conducted more than 105 strikes in support of the SDF's advance, French special forces are also offering training and advice to SDF fighters in the area.[253] On 15 June, British special forces were reported to be operating in the area, much of the SDF advance was made possible by US-led coalition air support, with air strikes being directed by foreign special forces personnel on the ground.[254]

On 3 June, F/A-18 Hornets launched from the USS Harry S. Truman conducted air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria from the eastern Mediterranean. It was the first time the U.S. Navy had conducted strike missions in the Middle East from the Mediterranean Sea since flying operations against the Iraqi military in 2003.[255]

On 9 June, Four U.S. special operations troops were "lightly" wounded by shrapnel when an Islamic State anti-tank missile fired at a nearby vehicle exploded in northern Syria, but they quickly returned to duty.[256][257][258]

On 16 June, as part of Russia's campaign to pressure the US to agree to closer cooperation over Syria, Russian military aircraft bombed, with cluster bombs, a military outpost in al-Tanf that was garrisoned by the New Syrian Army in south east Syria. US and British special forces based in Jordan regularly worked with Syrian rebels at the al-Tanf outpost, the airstrike happened 24 hours after a detachment of 20 British special forces left the outpost. After the airstrike took place, US commanders warned Russia that the garrison was part of the international coalition against IS and therefore shouldn't be attacked, but 90 minutes later, nearby US warplanes observed Russian jets dropping a second barrage of bombs on the outpost, killing 4 rebel soldiers. A US spy plane overhead tried to contact the Russian pilots on emergency frequencies, but the Russians did not answer. US officials demanded an explanation from Moscow, but they were told the Russian pilots struck the outpost because they thought it was ISIL base, Russian officials then said that Jordan had approved the strikes in advance, but Jordan denied it. Moscow also claimed its air command headquarters in Syria was unable to call off the strikes because the US had not given them the precise position of the outpost.[259][260]

On 29 June, as part of the 2016 al-Bukamal offensive — the offensive by the New Syrian Army and several hundred other rebels from different factions that aims to capture Al-Bukamal and sever ISISs transit link between Syria and Iraq; Pentagon-trained rebel forces entered the al-Hamdan air base — 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the border town Al-Bukamal/Boukamal following intense clashes. This followed significant advances into ISIL-held territory near the al-Bukamal border crossing, the NSA (New Syrian Army) said it had captured a number of IS positions on the outskirts of Albu Kamal, but a raid into the town at dawn was reported to have been repelled by militants. Fighting continued around the town, as coalition airstrikes were carried out on IS hidehouts; the NSA also said it was co-ordinating the assault with Iraqi government forces, who were advancing on the border from the other side. NSA issued a statement saying "the NSA maintains control of the desert, the approaches to Albu Kamal, and maintains freedom of manoeuvre". later on that day, IS militants ambushed the rebels, inflicting heavy casualties and seizing weapons according to a rebel source. IS retook the airbase from the NSA and continued to advance against the rebels, recapturing some of the outposts the NSA had captured south of the town; coalition helicopters dropped in "foreign" airborne troops on the southern edge of Boukamal to help the rebels in their advance, coalition jets also carried out 8 airstrikes on IS targets in the Boukamal area.[261][262][263][264] A contributing reasons for the failure of the operation was the withdrawing of air support at a critical moment, the aircraft assigned to the operation were ordered in the middle of the operation to leave the area and instead fly to the outskirts of Fallujah, where a large convoy of IS fighters had been seen trying to escape across the desert after the city was recaptured by the Iraqi army, and U.S. commanders decided that the convoy represented a “strategic target.” The convoy was destroyed by the U.S. and British planes along with gunships and aircraft from the Iraqi air force.[265]

August 2016

On 7 August, as part of Operation Tidal Wave II, "Multiple" coalition warplanes destroyed some 83 oil tankers used by the Islamic State near Albu Kamal.[266]

CNN reported that US and coalition carried out airstrikes in support of the Turkish intervention in Syria with Syrian opposition forces in August 2016, who seized the town of Jarabulus from ISIS and pushed south and west in an effort to clear the terror group from its border. US Special Operations Forces had initially intended to accompany the offensive but the US was still working on approving the proposal when Turkish units pushed across the border.[267]

On 30 August, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Al-Bab, the New York times reported that he was travelling in a vehicle that was destroyed by the drone. CNN reported that Al-Adnani was a key deputy to IS's leader, he also acted as the principal architect in ISIS'S external operations and as the group's spokesman, he coordinated the movements of their fighters - directly encouraging them to carryout lone-wolf attacks on civilians and military targets. It marked the highest-profile killing of an ISIS member.[268][269][270]

September 2016

On 8 September, an airstrike allegedly carried out by the United States, killed Abu Hajer al-Homsi (nom de guerre Abu Omar Saraqib), the top military commander of the renamed al-Nusra Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, in the countryside of the Aleppo Governorate. Abu Hajer al-Homsi was one of the founding members of the al-Nusra Front and had taken part in the Iraq War against the US when he was part of the processor organization al-Qaeda in Iraq.[40] The Pentagon denied carrying out the strike and instead claimed Russia was responsible.[271]

On 16 September, CNN reported that Up to 40 US Special Operations Forces are accompanying Turkish troops and vetted Syrian opposition forces as they clear ISIS from northern Syria, the mission was called Operation Noble Lance was authorised that week and is now underway. The US personnel will be conducting the same type of advising, assisting and training missions that the US had been providing to moderate opposition to local anti-ISIS forces.[272] The Washington Post reported that the contingent of Special Operations forces assisting the Turkish and Syrian forces around the cities of Jarabulus and Al-Rai was sent at the request of the Turkish government.[273]

On 17 September, two US planes A-10, two Danish F-16 and a UK Reaper drone[274][275] mistakenly bombed a Syrian Army base in the city of Deir ez-Zor which is besieged by ISIL. More than 62 soldiers were killed and at least 100 were wounded in the airstrike. [276] [277] ISIL forces attacked immediately after air-strike and took the local high point (with strategic importance) near Deir ez-Zor air-base: the Tharda (Thurda) mountain. SAA forces made a counter-attack (supported by Russian\Syrian air-strikes) and recapture the Tharda mountain by the end of the day, suffering additional losses (including one Syrian jet fighter). [278] [279] USAF immediately issued the official explanation [280] - it was a navigation\intelligence mistake and bombing was stopped after Russian Air Force contact group informed them about the SAA loses. [281] Danish Air Force confirmed that their two F-16 fighters participated in the air-strike, insisting that it was stopped in split second after message from Russians came, explaining it as a mistake and regretting the losses. [282] Russian officials accused USA in helping the ISIL by the air-raid. [283] Russia has called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council over the airstrike and the US temporarily ceased air-strikes in the area.[284]

October 2016

On 3 October, Ahmad Salama Mabruk, a senior al-Nusra Front and previously Egyptian Islamic Jihad commander, was killed by an air-to-surface missile launched by a US unmanned aerial vehicle in Jisr al-Shughur.[43][285]

November 2016

On 18 November, an US airstrike killed an Afghan al-Nusra Front commander, Abu Afghan al-Masri, in the town of Sarmada.[286]

On 24 November, the Washington Post reported that Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott C. Dayton of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2 was killed by an IED near Ayn Issa - roughly 35 miles northwest of the ISIS's self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa. It was the first time a U.S. service member has been killed in Syria since a contingent of Special Operations forces was deployed there in October 2015.[287]

Airstrikes on the Khorasan Group

A U.S. Air Force fighter jet drops ordnance on an ISIL compound in Ar-Raqqah, Syria on 23 September 2014.

One of the groups targeted by U.S. airstrikes was the Khorasan Group, an extremist group of suspected al-Qaeda "core" members who were alleged to have been plotting an attack against the U.S. and other Western nations.[138] The strikes targeted Khorasan training camps, explosives and munitions production facilities, communications facilities, as well as command and control facilities. The group has been claimed to possess advanced bomb making skills and their plot is claimed to involve a bomb made of a nonmetallic device such as a toothpaste container or clothes dipped in explosive material.[288] The group is reportedly led by Muhsin al-Fadhli, a leader of al-Qaeda and a close confidant of Osama bin Laden.[288] Intelligence officials expressed concern that the group may include militants who were taught by Ibrahim al-Asiri, the chief bomb maker for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who is known for his sophisticated bomb making techniques that nearly downed two Western airliners.[288]

Later statements by government officials indicated that the threat of a plot may have been less severe than initially reported.[289][290] One official indicated that "there did not yet seem to be a concrete plan in the works",[289] while another told The Guardian that "there was no indication of an imminent domestic threat from the group" at the time the United States began bombing.[290]

On 6 November, a second round of airstrikes was launched against Khorasan and al-Nusra in northwestern Syria, along with Ahrar ash-Sham at its headquarters in Idlib, whose leadership had been infiltrated by al-Qaeda.[26] On 13 November 2014, the US launched a third set of airstrikes against Khorasan.[291] On 19 November, the US carried out another airstrike on Khorasan near Hazm, which struck and destroyed a storage facility associated with the group.[190] On 1 December, the US carried out another airstrike on Khorasan near Aleppo.[193]

On 24 March 2015, it was revealed that the US airstrikes on Khorasan had killed 17 militants from the group.[292]

On 8 July 2015, a US airstrike near the town of Sarmada in Idlib, Syria, killed Muhsin al-Fadhli, the leader of Khorasan.[46]

Syrian reaction to the airstrikes

Syrian military radar was “passive” during the first air strikes, with no attempt to counter US aircraft.[293] During the first night of airstrikes, the United States' force deployed with HARM missiles as a precaution, as it was uncertain how Syria's air-defense network would react.[294]

In response to the errant airstrike of its forces in September, the Syrian Armed Forces called it a "serious and blatant attack on Syria and its military".[284]

Civilian casualties

The website Airwars which "maintains an extensive database of all known allegations in which civilians and friendly forces have been reported killed by the Coalition since August 2014" reports between 503 and 700 civilians killed by Coalition airstrikes in Syria as of April 2016.[295]

On 29 September 2014, several groups including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Aleppo Media Center, and the Local Coordination Committees reported that U.S. strikes hit a grain silo in the ISIL-controlled town of Manbij in northern Syria, killing two civilians.[296][297]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported ten airstrikes, also targeting various parts of the province of Idlib, killed at least one child and six other civilians. The group said at least 19 civilians had been killed in coalition airstrikes at that time.[298] The Pentagon reported it had no evidence of any civilian casualties from airstrikes targeting militants in Syria.[299] The United States has also acknowledged that its rules to avoid civilian casualties are looser in Syria than those for drone strikes elsewhere.[300]

The SOHR and other activist groups, reported that seven civilians were killed when an air strike hit a gas distribution facility near the town of al-Khasham is the eastern Deir al-Zor province on 17 October 2014 and three civilians were killed in an air strike on 16 October 2014 in the north east province of al-Hassakah. According to their reports, most of the civilians killed were fuel tanker drivers.[301]

According to Reuters, 50 civilians were killed in Syria by US-led airstrikes, since the start of the campaign in late September 2014.[302] On 28 December 2014, a U.S. airstrike in the northern Syrian town of Al-Bab killed more than 50 civilians.[303]

On 21 May 2015, the United States admitted it "probably" killed two children in bombings near Harem on 4 and 5 November 2014. These are the first such admissions of the campaign, and followed a military investigation. A similar investigation regarding an event in Syria is underway, and two regarding events in Iraq.[304] Two adult civilians were also minorly injured in the Harem strikes. The deaths and injuries are attributed by the military investigation to unintentional secondary explosions, after the bombers hit their intended targets, linked to the Khorasan.[305] On 19 July 2016 a coalition led airstrike on the ISIL controlled villages of Tokhar and Hoshariyeh reportedly killed at least 56 civilians, including 11 children.[306] On 3 August 2016, dozens of civilians were killed after an airstrike in Qa’im, some sources claiming that 30 were killed.[307]

Results

According to CJTF-OIR, ISIL has lost 20% of the territory it possessed in Syria since the campaign began, mostly due to advances by YPG/SDF forces with heavy Coalition air support.[308] Overall the American-led air campaign against ISIL is estimated by the Pentagon to have struck 32,000 targets (including 164 tanks, 400 Humvees, and 2,638 pieces of oil infrastructure) and killed 45,000 militants, with approximately 1/3 of these losses taking place in Syria.[1][309]

Air supply

On 20 October 2014 the United States began airdropping supplies to Syrian Kurdish forces, including the YPG, in Kobanî.[310] The Kurdish forces there have been engaged in battle with ISIL during the Siege of Kobanî. Prior to 20 October, the United States and its coalition partners fighting against ISIL in Syria, had not provided any supplies to Kurdish forces in their fight against ISIL.[310] Much of the reason for US having to airdrop supplies was due to the Turkish government's refusal to allow supplies to pass through their border into Kobanî. The U.S. specifically airdropped weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies supplied by Iraqi Kurdistan specifically to supply the Kurdish forces in Syria.[310] On 21 October, a video was released by ISIL showing what it claimed was a bundle of airdropped small arms, ammunition, and other supplies from the United States. The Pentagon said it was analyzing the video and could not at the time confirm whether the video was authentic but that the materials were similar and video would be analyzed by the Department of Defense to analyze its authenticity.[311] On 22 October, the Pentagon confirmed that one of the airdrops had been intercepted by ISIL but that it most likely would not give ISIL any real advantage in their operations.[312]

Ground forces

Free Syrian Army soldiers cleaning their rifles in Aleppo

During the beginning of the coalition interventions, leaders including U.S. President Obama, said coalition ground forces would not be used in the fight against ISIL either in Iraq or Syria unless they were local coalition forces.[313] While in Iraq thousands of coalition troops from the United States and other nations have been deployed in an advisory capacity, in Syria no ground troops from the coalition intervening in Syria were deployed in the beginning of the intervention.[314][315]

While there were no coalition ground forces in Syria originally, the US government has said that it wants to spend $500 million to fund the training and arming of up to 5,000 moderate rebels to function as ground forces against ISIL. Under the original plan, the rebels would be trained in Saudi Arabia and other unnamed countries and then return to fight in Syria.[316] The 'moderate' opposition groups that are expected to be armed and trained by the US government include the Free Syrian Army, which is a network of hundreds of smaller rebel groups along with the Syria Revolutionaries Front.[317] In mid-September 2014, the US Congress approved the plan to arm and fund rebels in Syria.[318] In October 2014, the Turkish government agreed to help train and equip some moderate Syrian rebels in Turkey.[319] The Turkish government agreed to allow the training of at least 2,000 moderate rebels in Turkey by U.S. and Turkish special forces with the rebels being trained in groups of 400. According to Turkish officials, the rebels would be chosen by the country’s MIT intelligence service using its databases in order to select and screen an initial 2,000 rebels to undergo training.[320]

As the Siege of Kobanî continued there were growing calls to also arm the YPG, also known as the People's Protection Units, a Kurdish fighting force in Syria heavily involved in the defense of Kobanî.[321] On 20 October 2014, the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced that the Turkish government would be allowing peshmerga from the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government to cross their border into Kobanî to support Kurdish fighters.[322] The change in policy came after the Turkish government had refused to allow Kurdish fighters and supplies to pass through the border to YPG units in Kobanî, as it viewed the YPG as an offshoot of the PKK.[323] On 28 October, Peshmerga from the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government departed Erbil to travel to Turkey and eventually to Kobanî.[324] A total of 152 soldiers were deployed starting with forty vehicles carrying weapons, artillery, and machine guns, along with 80 Peshmerga forces, who crossed the border into Turkey by land with the heavy weapons and then drove to the border near Kobanî.[324] The other 72 soldiers in the contingent flew to Turkey and rejoined the rest of the contingent on 29 October.[324] On 29 October 152 Kurdish Peshmerga from Iraq and 50 Free Syrian Army fighters crossed the border into Kobanî with heavy weapons, small arms, and ammunition.[15][66]

In November 2015, The Obama administration began the deployment of U.S. special forces to Syria, on the mission of assisting anti-Assad rebel forces in their fight, President Obama then ordered several dozen Special Operations troops into Kurdish-controlled territory in northern Syria to assist local fighters battling the Islamic State, authorizing the first open-ended mission by American ground forces into the country.[325]

In March 2016, it was revealed that British forces had helped in the building up of a mechanised battalion in southern Syria, consisting of tribal fighters to combat Bashar al-Assad’s army.[326]

Naming of Operation Inherent Resolve

Unlike previous U.S. combat operations, no name had been given to the American intervention in Syria and Iraq until it was announced in mid-October that the operational name would be Inherent Resolve.[327][328] The decision to keep the conflict nameless drew considerable media criticism.[329][330]

Turkish involvement

Turkey, a NATO member, has been involved in the Syrian Civil War since the beginning of hostilities. Turkey has trained and armed some members of the Free Syrian Army, and has been involved in certain spillover incidents, however so far Turkey has not been involved in direct combat. On 2 October 2014, the Turkish Parliament authorized direct military action in both Iraq and Syria including using military force in Syria and Iraq as well as allowing coalition members to use bases in Turkey.[331] Turkey has also stationed troops and tanks on its southern border near the Syrian border city of Kobanî.[332] The Turkish government demanded several things to go along with them intervening against ISIL, including a buffer zone in Northern Syria, a no-fly zone over certain parts of northern Syria, ground troops from other countries, and the training of moderate opposition forces to fight both ISIL and al-Assad.[333][334]

Turkey also holds sovereignty over the Tomb of Suleyman Shah 35 km inside Syria, where it maintains a small garrison of Special forces that is surrounded by ISIL-controlled territory.[335]

On 22 February 2015, the Turkish Army mounted a rescue operation across the border to evacuate its soldiers from the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, an exclave of Turkey south of Kobanî. The Turkish convoy reportedly transited through Kurdish-held Kobanî en route to the tomb. One Turkish soldier was killed in what Ankara described as an accident. The success of the operation was announced 22 February by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.[336]

Reactions

Foreign reactions

Syrian reactions

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria". US Department of Defense. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. "Obama Administration Ends Effort to Train Syrians to Combat ISIS". The New York Times. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. Coorey, Phillip. "Australia to take 12,000 refugees, boost aid and bomb Syria". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  4. "Denmark tells U.N. it has trained radar on Syria". Reuters. 18 January 2016.
  5. "Denmark to expand military mission against Islamic State into Syria". Reuters. 4 March 2016.
  6. Barnes, Julian (13 May 2016). "Belgium Plans to Carry Out Airstrikes in Syria Against Islamic State". Wall Street Journal.
  7. "IS conflict: France launches air strikes in Syria". BBC. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Syria conflict: German MPs vote for anti-IS military mission". BBC. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  9. "Moroccan F-16 Carry Out Airstrikes Against ISIS". Morocco World News.
  10. 1 2 Stewart, Phil; Perryl, Tom (22 September 2014). "US, Arab partners launch first strikes on IS in Syria". Reuters. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  11. "Turkish jets attack IS Syria targets". BBC. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Turkey To Let U.S. Use Incirlik Air Base For ISIS Airstrikes, Officials Say". The Huffington Post. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 Sciutto, Jim; Castillo, Mariano; Yan, Holly (22 September 2014). "US airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time". CNN. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  14. "UK forces kill British Isis fighters in targeted drone strike on Syrian city". The Guardian. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015; "Syria air strikes conducted by UK military pilots". BBC News. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015; "SAS troops 'dressed in US uniforms and joined special forces on Isis Abu Sayyaf overnight raid in Syria'". 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015; "Surveillance missions over Syria confirmed". Ministry of Defence. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 Barnard, Anne (29 October 2014). "Reinforcements Enter Besieged Syrian Town via Turkey, Raising Hopes". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. "Kurdish fighters and Free Syrian Army clash with IS at strategic border town". Reuters. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  17. 1 2 Raddatz, Martha; Martinez, Luis; Ferran, Lee (22 September 2014). "U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS inside Syria for first time". ABC News. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  18. Abdulrahim, Raja (28 November 2014). "Islamic State, rival Al Nusra Front each strengthen grip on Syria". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  19. "Negotiations failed between the IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic battalions". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  20. Brunker, Mike (21 November 2014). "War of Words Between al Qaeda and ISIS Continues With Scholar's Smackdown". NBC News. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  21. "US-led strikes hit Qaeda in Syria as well as IS: Monitor". Al-Ahram. Agence France-Presse. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  22. "U.S. bombs Nusra headquarters in key city on Turkey-Syria border". McClatchy DC. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  23. 1 2 "An internal struggle: Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate is grappling with its identity". Brookings Institution. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  24. 1 2 E. Barnes, Julian; Dagher, Sam (24 September 2014). "Syria Strikes: U.S. Reports Significant Damage in Attacks on Islamic State, Khorasan". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  25. Dziadoszt, Alexander (6 November 2014). Boulton, Ralph, ed. "Syria's Ahrar al-Sham says coalition strikes on it killed civilians: statement". Reuters. Beirut, Lebanon. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  26. 1 2 3 Paton Walsh, Nick; Smith-Spark, Laura (6 November 2014). "Report: Airstrikes target another Islamist group in Syria". CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  27. Abdelhak Mamoun. "ISIS leader al-Baghdadi is incapacitated, says the Guardian". Iraq News.
  28. "Report: A former physics teacher is now leading ISIS - Business Insider". Business Insider. 23 April 2015.
  29. 1 2 "ISIS' Abu Alaa al-Afri killed alongside dozens of followers in air strike". Daily Mail Online.
  30. "Military Skill and Terrorist Technique Fuel Success of ISIS". New York Times. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  31. 1 2 Alessandria Masi (11 November 2014). "If ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Killed, Who Is Caliph Of The Islamic State Group?". International Business Times.
  32. "Kadyrov Claims Red-Bearded Chechen Militant al-Shishani Dead". ElBalad. 14 November 2014.
  33. "Kadyrov Says Islamic State's Leader From Georgia Killed". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 14 November 2014.
  34. "U.S. confirms death of ISIS operative Omar al-Shishani". CNN. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  35. Top ISIS Commander 'Omar the Chechen' Believed Dead After Airstrike
  36. 1 2 Ashton Carter (16 June 2015). "Carter: Special Operations Troops Conduct Raid in Syria". Washington DC: United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced in a statement today that U.S. special operations forces yesterday conducted an operation in Syria to capture a senior leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorist organization.
  37. "Abou Khattab, kurde, jihadiste et chef des opérations du Daech contre Kobané". Al Huffington Post (in French). 11 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  38. "Islamic State's commanders killed in Kobane". ARA News.
  39. 1 2 "Syria's Qaeda leader killed in explosion - ARA News". ARA News.
  40. 1 2 "Air strike kills top commander of former Nusra group in Syria". Reuters. 9 September 2016.
  41. "Syrian Nusra Front's Abu Firas killed in suspected drone strike: rebels". Reuters. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  42. Al-Qaeda top official killed in American strike northern Syria
  43. 1 2 "Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Strike against al-Qaida Leader". US Department of Defense. 3 October 2016.
  44. Maclean, William (28 September 2014). "Khorasan leader killed by US air strike in Syria last week, Al-Qaida member tweets". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  45. 1 2 Starr, Barbara; Cruickshank, Paul (10 December 2014). "Officials: Khorasan Group bomb maker thought dead survived". CNN. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  46. 1 2 "Key al-Qaeda figure Muhsin al-Fadhli killed in U.S. airstrike in Syria - Pentagon". BNO News. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  47. Starr, Barbara; Hume, Tim (18 October 2015). "Al Qaeda leader killed in U.S. airstrike, Pentagon says - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  48. "French jihadist Drugeon killed in Syria: US official". AFP. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  49. "Syria rebels name slain leader's replacement". Al Jazeera English. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  50. "Syria rebels name slain leader's replacement". Al Jazeera English. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  51. "Abu Yahia al-Hamawi, Ahrar al-Sham's New Leader". Syria Comment. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  52. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miklaszewski, Jim; Kube, Courtney; Cheikh Omar, Ammar; Arkin, Daniel (22 September 2014). "US, Arab Allies Strike ISIS in Syria". NBC News. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  53. Simoes, Hendrick (16 October 2014). "USS Carl Vinson set to take over airstrikes in Syria, Iraq". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  54. 1 2 Barnes, Julian (22 September 2014). "U.S., Arab Allies Launch Strikes Against Militant Targets In Syria". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  55. Harress, Christopher (23 September 2014). "The A-10 Thunderbolt, Saved By Congress, Joins Airstrikes Against ISIS In Syria". International Business Times. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  56. "Raptors, bombers & drones: How US-led ISIS strikes caused carnage in Syria". Russia Today. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  57. Harress, Christopher (24 September 2014). "US Airstrikes In Syria Against ISIS May Cost As Much As $10 Billion". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  58. Sanchez, Raf; Sherlock, Ruth (8 September 2014). "Predator drones being flown over Isil's Syrian 'capital'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  59. "Reaper drones pinpoint Jihadi John: Terrorist has been tracked by British forces but security chiefs fear 'kill or capture' mission would end in failure". Daily Mail. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 "Partner Nations Contributions Summary". Justin Fishel. Twitter. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 La France a réalisé 12% des frappes non-américaines contre l'EI (Pentagone), AFP, 18 November 2015.
  62. Chammal : Point de situation au 10 septembre, Ministère de la Défense, 21 September 2015.
  63. 1 2 "Britain to use surveillance drones in Syria". Deutsche Welle. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  64. 1 2 "Surveillance missions over Syria confirmed". Ministry of Defence. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  65. 1 2 3 "Islamic State crisis: Syria rebel forces boost Kobane defence". BBC News. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  66. "Will the Islamic State last through 2015?". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  67. 1 2 "Syria crisis: Spooked by rebel gains, Jordan doubles down on Islamic State". 4 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  68. Cockburn, Patrick (16 November 2014). "Islamic State has 200,000 fighters, claims Kurdish leader". The Independent. Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  69. "Islamic State 'training pilots to fly fighter jets'". BBC News. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  70. Mezzofiore, Gianluca (17 October 2014). "ISIS Syria News: Iraqi Pilots 'Training Isis Fighters' to Fly Captured Planes". International Business Times. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  71. "US-led forces drop nearly 5,000 bombs on ISIS". Al Arabiya. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  72. "Fears of massacre as Isis tanks lead assault on Kurdish bastion". The Times. 4 October 2014.
  73. Bergen, Peter; Schneider, Emily (24 August 2014). "Now ISIS has drones?". CNN. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  74. "Footage From an ISIS Drone". The New York Times. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  75. E Shoichet, Catherine (27 October 2014). "Hostage in video claims Syrian city of Kobani is under ISIS control". CNN. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  76. Leith Fadel. "ISIS Drone Downed by the Syrian Army at Kuweires Airbase in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News.
  77. Raddatz, Martha; Martinez, Luis (7 October 2014). "Airstrikes in Syria That Targeted Khorasan Group Disrupted Plots Against US, Gen. Dempsey Says". ABC News. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  78. "Why Did Jund Al-Aqsa Join Nusra Front in Taking Out 'Moderate' Rebels in Idlib?". Huffington Post. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  79. "Competition among Islamists". The Economist. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  80. "Marine is first US death in operations against Islamic State". The Times of India. Reuters. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  81. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/soldiers-killed-gunfire-jordan-air-base-army-161104130012777.html
  82. "U.S. loses drone over Syria, which claims to have brought it down". Reuters.
  83. Adams, Paul (3 February 2015). "Jordan pilot hostage Moaz al-Kasasbeh 'burned alive'". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  84. "Jordan pilot ejected over Syria after 'technical failure'". Yahoo! News. Agence France-Presse. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  85. "US launch air strikes on ISIL as Kurds flee Syria". The Daily Telegraph. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  86. Baker, Peter (23 September 2014). "In Airstrikes, U.S. Targets Militant Cell Said to Plot an Attack Against the West". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  87. 1 2 3 4 5 "The International Coalition completes its second year of intervention in Syria, killing more than 6200 persons, including 611 Syrian civilians". SOHR. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  88. "US-led air strikes hit al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria". The Irish Times. Reuters. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  89. "2142 civilian citizens among the 4000 people executed by the "Islamic state" during the 20th month of announcing the "Caliphate State" in Syria". SOHR. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  90. "Most US Airstrikes in Syria Target a City That's Not a "Strategic Objective" - Mother Jones". Mother Jones.
  91. At least 20,000 civilians displaced during the Al-Hasakah offensive (February–March 2015); 5,000+ in the Khabur Valley region, and 15,000+ in the Tell Hamis region
  92. Hubbard, Ben (24 September 2014). "At Least 500 Militants Killed in U.S.-Led Strikes in Syria, Observer Group Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  93. "President Obama: "We Will Degrade and Ultimately Destroy ISIL"". White House office of the Press Secretary. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  94. Saul, Heather (23 September 2014). "Syria air strike: Twitter user Abdulkader Hariri live tweets US Islamic State attack 'before Pentagon breaks news'". The Independent. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  95. Miklaszewski, Jim; Vinograd, Cassandra (23 September 2014). "U.S. Bombs ISIS Sites in Syria and Targets Khorasan Group". NBC News. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  96. Riechmann, Deb (13 November 2014). "AP sources: IS, al-Qaida reach accord in Syria". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  97. Master. "Negotiations failed between the IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic battalions". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.
  98. Holliday, Joseph (December 2011). "The Struggle for Syria in 2011 – An Operational and Regional Analysis" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  99. Abouzeid, Rania (June 23, 2014). "The Jihad Next Door – The roots of Iraq's newest civil war". Politico. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  100. "US axes $500m scheme to train Syrian rebels, says NYT". The Guardian. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  101. "Secret CIA effort in Syria faces large funding cut". The Washington Post. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  102. U.S. Considers Resuming Nonlethal Aid to Syrian Opposition, By MARK LANDLER, 9, January 2014
  103. "U.S. Weaponry Is Turning Syria Into Proxy War With Russia". The New York Times. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  104. Bowman, Tom; Fordham, Alice (23 April 2014). "CIA Is Quietly Ramping Up Aid To Syrian Rebels, Sources Say". NPR. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  105. Spencer, Richard (17 February 2014). "US-backed head of Free Syria Army voted out". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  106. Youssef, Nancy A. (May 26, 2014). "Syrian Rebels Describe U.S.-Backed Training in Qatar". PBSFrontline. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  107. 1 2 Barnes, Julian E.; Entous, Adam (17 February 2015). "U.S. to Give Some Syria Rebels Ability to Call Airstrikes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  108. "House Grudgingly Approves Arms for Syrian Rebels". New York Post. Associated Press. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  109. 1 2 Amos, Deborah (17 September 2014). "After A Long Wait, Syrian Rebels Hope The Weapons Will Now Flow". NPR. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  110. "Syria opposition says it backs rebel fight against al-Qaeda". Al Arabiya. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  111. Perry, Tom; Stewart, Phil (30 September 2014). Nakhoul, Samia, ed. "U.S.-led air strikes pose problem for Assad's moderate foes". Reuters. Reyhanlı, Turkey. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  112. "US to send 400 troops to train Syrian rebels". BBC News. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  113. 1 2 "U.S. identifies 1,200 potential fighters for Syria training". Reuters. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  114. "Syrian Opposition Fighters Withdraw from US 'Train and Equip' Program". The Syrian Observer. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  115. "Syrian commander of U.S.-trained fighters is kidnapped by Al-Qaida affiliate". New York Times. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  116. "US will 'protect' Syrian rebels when time comes: envoy". The Daily Mail. AFP. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  117. "UK to give military training to 'moderate Syria forces'". BBC News. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  118. "Turkey, US to start train-and-equip plan for Syria rebels May 9: Ankara". TDS. Reuters. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  119. Afanasieva, Dasha (25 May 2015). "Turkey says deal with US on air support for Syria rebels". The Daily Star. Reuters. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  120. 1 2 3 Sherlock, Ruth; Malouf, Carol; Ensor, Josie (21 August 2014). "The failed US mission to try and rescue James Foley from Islamic State terrorists". The Daily Telegraph. Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  121. Hennessey, Kathleen; Hennigan, W.J. (22 August 2014). "Rising danger prompted U.S. effort to rescue James Foley, other hostages". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  122. Chorley, Matt; McTague, Tom (2 September 2014). "British hostage whose life is threatened in latest ISIS execution video was subject of failed rescue attempt by US special forces". Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  123. Botelho, Greg (14 September 2014). "ISIS executes British aid worker David Haines; Cameron vows justice". CNN. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  124. Pace, Julie (25 August 2014). "AP source: Obama backs surveillance over Syria". Salon. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  125. Entous, Adam; E. Barnes, Julian; Nissenbaum, Dion (25 August 2014). "U.S. Lays Groundwork for Syria Strike". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  126. ‘U.S. Forms Anti-ISIS Coalition at NATO Summit’. Time, 5 September 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  127. ‘Joint Statement Issued by Partners at the Counter-ISIL Coalition Ministerial Meeting’. United States Department of State, 3 December 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  128. Miklaszewski, Jim. "Small Number of U.S.-Trained Syrian Rebels Still Fighting". NBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  129. 1 2 "UK troops to train moderate Syrian opposition". United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  130. Jeremy Binnie, Neil Gibson (8 April 2016). "US arms shipment to Syrian rebels detailed". Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  131. Malone, Paul (10 July 2016). "Save us from the Dr Strangeloves". Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  132. "Obama outlines plan to target IS fighters". Al Jazeera. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  133. Miller, Zake (10 September 2014). "Obama Says U.S. Will Bomb ISIS in Syria, Train Rebels". Time. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  134. 1 2 3 "Russia warns US against strikes on Islamic State in Syria". BBC News. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  135. O'Keefe, Ed (17 September 2014). "House approves Obama's Iraq-Syria military strategy amid skepticism". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  136. Carter, Chelsea J.; Starr, Barbara (19 September 2014). "Obama: ISIS threat against U.S., allies 'doesn't frighten us'". CNN. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  137. 1 2 3 Pande, Aru; Babb, Carl (23 September 2014). "US: Syria Won't, Can't Stop Militant Safe Havens". Voice of America. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  138. Hafezi, Parisa; Charbonneau, Louis; Mohammed, Arshad (23 September 2014). Goller, Howard, ed. "Exclusive: U.S. told Iran of intent to strike Islamic State in Syria". United Nations, New York City: Reuters. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  139. "Trudeau to Obama: Canada to pull out of bombing campaign against ISIS". CNN. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  140. Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (23 September 2014). "U.S. Airstrikes by U.S. and Allies Hit ISIS Targets in Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  141. Vanden Brook, Tom (22 September 2014). "U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria start". USA Today. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  142. Butler, Desmond (23 September 2014). "U.S. and partners launch airstrikes in Syria against Islamic State". CTV News. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  143. "US Syria raids also aimed at thwarting attack plot: Pentagon". Daily Star. Agence France-Presse. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  144. Dziadosz, Alexander (23 September 2014). Graff, Peter, ed. "Air strikes in Syria hit Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front: monitor". Reuters. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  145. Stewart, Phil; Perryl, Tom (23 September 2014). "US, Arab allies launch first strikes on fighters in Syria". Daily Star. Reuters. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  146. Martinez, Luis (24 September 2014). "US-Led Planes Strike ISIS Oil Facilities in Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  147. Murdock, Heather (25 September 2014). "Arab Militaries Lead Third Round of Syria Strikes". Voice of America. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  148. "U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS oil areas, destroy tanks". CBS News. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  149. E. Sanger, David; Barnard, Anne (27 September 2014). "U.S., Defending Kurds in Syria, Expands Strikes Against ISIS". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  150. Lucas, Ryan (29 September 2014). "US-led coalition hits Islamic State group in 4 provinces across northern and eastern Syria". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  151. Albayrak, Ayla (1 October 2014). "U.S.-Led Forces Carry Out Airstrikes Near Besieged Syrian City". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  152. "U.S., Allied Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  153. "Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  154. "U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  155. "U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  156. "U.S., Partner Nations Strike ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  157. "Airstrikes Pound ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  158. "Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  159. "U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  160. "Airstrikes Target ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  161. "U.S. Continues Strikes on ISIL, Drops Supplies to Iraqi Troops". United States Department of Defense. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  162. "U.S. Military, Partners Continue Airstrikes Against ISIL". United States Department of Defense. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  163. Banco, Erin (12 October 2014). "US: Turkey Allows Coalition Military Forces To Use Its Bases". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  164. C. Baldor, Lolita; Klapper, Bradley (12 October 2014). "US says Turkey OKs use of bases against militants". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  165. Harress, Christopher (13 October 2014). "Confusion Reigns As Turkey Appears to Renege on Base Deal For US Strikes Against ISIS In Syria". International Business Times. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  166. "U.S., Saudi Arabia Conduct Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria". United States Department of Defense. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  167. "U.S., Partners Continue Airstrikes Against ISIL". United States Department of Defense. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  168. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Iraq, Syria". United States Department of Defense. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  169. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria". United States Department of Defense. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  170. "Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  171. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  172. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  173. "Airstrikes Continue in Support of Operation Inherent Resolve". United States Department of Defense. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  174. "Airstrikes Against ISIL Continue in Iraq, Syria". United States Department of Defense. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  175. "Airstrikes Against ISIL Forces Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  176. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  177. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  178. "Operation Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  179. "Airstrikes in Syria, Iraq Destroy ISIL Positions". United States Department of Defense. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  180. "Centcom Officials Describe Latest Inherent Resolve Airstrikes". United States Department of Defense. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  181. "More Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  182. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  183. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Operation Inherent Resolve Strike Updates". United States Department of Defense. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  184. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  185. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  186. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  187. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL; Centcom Holds Meetings". United States Department of Defense. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  188. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  189. 1 2 "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  190. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  191. "Airstrikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  192. 1 2 "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  193. "Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  194. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  195. "Airstrikes Target ISIL Terrorists' Facilities, Capabilities". United States Department of Defense. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  196. "Airstrikes Against ISIL Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  197. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  198. "Military Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  199. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL". United States Department of Defense. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  200. "Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  201. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  202. "Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria and Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  203. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  204. "Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists". United States Department of Defense. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  205. "Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq". United States Department of Defense. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  206. "Jordanian fighter jets strike hard at ISIS, pay tribute to murdered pilot". Fox News.
  207. "Jordanian warplanes bomb Isis targets". The New Zealand Herald.
  208. "Monitor: More than 30 ISIS militants killed in coalition raids in Syria". Al Arabiya. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  209. "Syria Kurds seize territory in anti-IS offensive". AFP. 22 February 2015.
  210. Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Oliver Holmes (23 February 2015). Tom Heneghan, ed. "Islamic State in Syria abducts at least 150 Christians". Reuters. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  211. "Islamic State 'abducts dozens of Christians in Syria'". BBC. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  212. Oliver Holmes (26 February 2015). Mark Trevelyan, ed. "Islamic State snatches 220 from Christian villages: Syria monitoring group". Reuters. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  213. "Activists: Number of Christians abducted by IS rises to 220". Associated Press. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  214. "Kurdish forces 'capture strategic IS Syria bastion'". AFP. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  215. "Kurdish forces 'capture strategic IS Syria bastion'". Yahoo News. 27 February 2015.
  216. "Under Kurdish attacks, ISIS loses main stronghold in Hasakah". ARA News.
  217. "Syria's Qaeda under fire". ARA News.
  218. 1 2 Chase, Steven (8 April 2015). "Canadian jets drop first bombs on Islamic State stronghold in Syria". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  219. "SAS 'took part in Abu Sayyaf Isil raid in Syria'". The Telegraph. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  220. Will Dunham, Matt Spetalnick (16 May 2015). "U.S. conducts raid in Syria, says it kills senior Islamic State leader". Washington DC: Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  221. Barbara Starr, Laura Smith-Spark and Ray Sanchez (17 May 2015). "Abu Sayyaf, key ISIS figure in Syria, killed in raid". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015. The officials identified Sayyaf's captured wife as Umm Sayyaf, an Iraqi. She is now being held in Iraq.
  222. Fraser, Suzan (24 July 2015). "Turkey says warplanes strike IS targets across the border in Syria". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  223. "Two Britons killed in RAF Syria strike, PM tells MPs". BBC News. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  224. "Syria conflict: Obama to deploy 250 more special forces troops". CNN. 25 April 2016.
  225. Manal (10 October 2015). "Two F16 aircrafts [sic] violate Syrian airspace, target electric power plants in Aleppo". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  226. Mullen, Jethro (21 October 2015). "Canada to pull out of bombing campaign against ISIS". CNN News. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  227. Paris attacks: France launches anti-IS strikes from carrier 23 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  228. Reem. "US-led coalition targets water pumping stations in Aleppo". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  229. News Desk. "US-led Coalition Targets Water Pumping Stations in Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  230. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2015/12/11/syrias-bombed-water-infrastructure/
  231. "Syria air strikes: MPs authorise UK action against Islamic State". BBC News. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  232. "Syria air strikes: RAF Tornado jets carry out bombing". BBC News. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  233. "Syria Blames U.S. in Base Bombing, but Americans Blame Russia". The New York Times. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  234. Paul Antonopoulos. "Reports: ISIS attacks Ayash Base Following US-Led Airstrikes". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  235. 1 2 "Isis second-in-command Haji Imam killed by US forces". MSN. 25 March 2016.
  236. 1 2 "Isis second in command killed in US raid, Pentagon says". the guardian. 25 March 2016.
  237. "Top Islamic State commander dead a week after US-led airstrike in Syria". the guardian. 15 March 2016.
  238. Correspondent, Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon. "U.S. tries to confirm it killed top ISIS leader".
  239. "Revelation of March ISIS battle highlights risks for U.S. troops". CNN. 20 June 2016.
  240. "Pentagon: ISIS finance minister killed". CNN. 25 March 2016.
  241. "IS senior leader 'killed in US raid in Syria'". BBC News. 25 March 2016.
  242. "Obama to announce an additional 250 special operations forces to Syria". CNN. 25 April 2016.
  243. "Obama to announce plans to grow U.S. Special Operations force in Syria". the Washington post. 24 April 2016.
  244. "US military special forces pictured aiding Kurdish fighters in Syria". the guardian. 26 May 2016.
  245. "First images emerge of U.S. Special Operations forces in the fight to retake Raqqa". the Washington post. 26 May 2016.
  246. "Pentagon denies U.S. special forces are fighting ISIS on front lines in Syria". CNN. 27 May 2016.
  247. 1 2 "US-backed forces launch operation to retake ISIS-held Syrian town near Turkish border". fox news. 1 June 2016.
  248. "U.S. troops wounded by ISIS were not in 'active combat,' Pentagon says". the Washington post. 31 May 2016.
  249. "British special forces 'operating inside Syria alongside rebels'". the telegraph. 6 June 2016.
  250. "British special forces pictured on front line in Syria for first time". the telegraph. 8 August 2016.
  251. "Syria conflict: US-backed fighters 'advance on IS-held Manbij'". BBC news. 1 June 2016.
  252. "Setbacks seen for Islamic State in Syria, Iraq, Libya". Associated Press. 9 June 2016.
  253. "Syria conflict: On the frontline in battle for IS-held Manbij". BBC News. 15 June 2016.
  254. "USS Harry Truman launches airstrikes against ISIS from Mediterranean Sea". fox news. 4 June 2016.
  255. "ISIS rocket wounds 4 US special ops troops in northern Syria". fox news. 20 June 2016.
  256. "US special forces wounded fighting Islamic State in Syria". the times. 22 June 2016.
  257. "First on CNN: Four U.S. military advisers wounded in Syria". CNN. 21 June 2016.
  258. "SAS outpost in Syria 'bombed by Russians just hours after troops left'". the telegraph. 22 July 2016.
  259. "Russia's attack on U.S.-backed rebels in Syria puzzles, frustrates the Pentagon". military.com. 23 June 2016.
  260. "Syria conflict: Rebels 'move on IS-held town near Iraq border'publisher=BBC News". 29 June 2016.
  261. "IS Repels Advance by US-Backed Syria Rebels Near Iraq Border". New York times. 29 June 2016.
  262. "ISIL retakes Syria border town from US-backed rebels". Aljazeera. 29 June 2016.
  263. "ISIS repels attack by US-backed Syrian rebels near Iraq border". fox news. 29 June 2016.
  264. "U.S. jets abandoned Syrian rebels in the desert. Then they lost a battle to ISIS.". Washington post. 6 July 2016.
  265. "Air Raids Destroy Scores Of IS Oil Tankers". Sky News. 8 August 2016.
  266. "US Special Forces join Turkish troops in Syria". CNN. 16 September 2016.
  267. "Key ISIS deputy and spokesman killed in Aleppo, group says". CNN. 31 August 2016.
  268. "Death of senior leader al-Adnani caps bad month for ISIS". CNN. 31 August 2016.
  269. "Senior ISIS Strategist and Spokesman Is Reported Killed in Syria". new York times. 30 August 2016.
  270. "Pentagon says not involved in death of Syrian rebel leader". AFP. 9 September 2016.
  271. "US Special Forces join Turkish troops in Syria". CNN. 16 September 2016.
  272. "U.S. Special Operations forces begin new role alongside Turkish troops in Syria". washington post. 16 September 2016.
  273. "RAF Reaper drones used in airstrike that killed Syrian troops, MoD says". the guardian. 19 September 2016.
  274. "RAF drones took part in air strike which accidentally killed dozens of Syrian soldiers". the telegraph. 19 September 2016.
  275. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-idUSKCN11N0QG
  276. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-strike-idUSKCN11N0SC
  277. https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-isis-militants-cheer-atop-syrian-soldiers-killed-us-air-strikes/
  278. https://lenta.ru/news/2016/09/17/syria3/
  279. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CslMo5BWgAQ9mTD.jpg:large
  280. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/09/17/Russia-Truce-in-Syria-was-violated-199-times-.html
  281. http://www2.forsvaret.dk/nyheder/intops/Pages/TEST.aspx
  282. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN11N062
  283. 1 2 "The Latest: UN Security Council to meet over US Syria strike". AP. 17 September 2016.
  284. "EXTREMELY GRAPHIC: Drone strike kills Nusra commander in Syria's Idlib". Al-Masdar News. 17 October 2016.
  285. "Pentagon says air strike killed 'senior al Qaeda leader' in Syria". Reuters. 22 November 2016.
  286. "First U.S. service member killed in Syria was a bomb disposal technician". Washington post. 25 November 2016.
  287. 1 2 3 Levis, Josh; Cruickshank, Paul; Lister, Time (23 September 2014). "Source: Al Qaeda group in Syria plotted attack against U.S. with explosive clothes". CNN. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  288. 1 2 Mazzetti, Mark (24 September 2014). "A terror cell that avoided the spotlight". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  289. 1 2 Ackerman, Spencer (25 September 2014). "US officials unclear on threat posed by obscure al-Qaida cell in Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  290. "US bombs Al-Qaeda offshoot Khorasan for third time". Yahoo! News. Agence France-Presse. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  291. "Nusra Front quietly rises in Syria as ISIS targeted". Al Arabiya. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  292. Collard, Rebecca; Murphy, Brian (23 September 2014). "Syria informed in advance of U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  293. Ewing, Philip (9 October 2014). "Syria could threaten U.S. warplanes". Politico. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  294. "Civilian and 'friendly fire' casualties". airwars.org. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  295. Crone, Jack; Crossley, Lucy (29 September 2014). "U.S. airstrikes on ISIS 'killed Syrian civilians after mistaking grain silo for jihadist base'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  296. "US-led airstrikes hit four Syrian provinces, activists claim civilians killed". Fox News. Associated Press. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  297. "ISIL closes in on border town with Turkey". Al Jazeera English. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  298. Wong, Kristina (29 September 2014). "Pentagon: No evidence airstrikes killed civilians". The Hill (newspaper). Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  299. 1 2 "Unintended consequences: Are U.S.-led air strikes creating a Sunni backlash?". The Economist. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  300. Becatoros, Elena; Hadid, Dia (18 October 2014). "U.S. Coalition Airstrike On ISIS Gas Station Kills 8 In Syria: Activists". Huffington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  301. Westall, Sylvia (12 November 2014). Chopra, Toby, ed. "U.S.-led strikes have killed 865 people in Syria, 50 civilians: monitor". Beirut, Lebanon: Reuters. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  302. Pandey, Avaneesh (12 January 2015). "Northern Syria Coalition Airstrike Killed At Least 50 Civilians In December: Report". International Business Times. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  303. "Syria crisis: 'Children died' in US air strike". BBC News.
  304. "U.S. admits two children killed in Islamic State campaign". Reuters India.
  305. "Dozens of civilians killed in alleged U.S. coalition strikes in Syria". CBS News. Associated Press. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  306. http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/aerial-bombing-in-anbar-kills-civilians/
  307. Jim Michaels, "ISIL loses 45% of territory in Iraq, 20% in Syria ", USA Today, 19 May 2016.
  308. "Estimate: 45,000 ISIS-linked fighters killed in the last two years, says US Military Official.". Fox News. 10 August 2016.
  309. 1 2 3 Walker, Brian (20 October 2014). "U.S. airdrops weapons, medical supplies to fighters in Kobani". CNN. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  310. "Islamic State: US probes 'stray Syria air drop' in IS video". BBC News. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  311. "One Airdrop to Kurds Fighting in Kobani Intercepted". United States Department of Defense. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  312. Brooks, Rosa (26 September 2014). "Why Obama's assurance of 'no boots on the ground' isn't so reassuring". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  313. Diamond, Jeremy (16 September 2014). "When are troops 'advisers' and when are they 'boots on the ground'?". CNN. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  314. Michaels, Jim (25 September 2014). "Analysis: Syria will test no-boots-on-ground strategy". USA Today. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  315. Szep, Jason; Stewart, Phil; Spetalnick, Matt (15 September 2014). McBride, Janet, ed. "Syria's 'moderate' rebels say they need weapons, not training". Reuters. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  316. Plesser, Ben; Cheikh Omar, Ammar; McClam, Erin (20 September 2014). "Who Are the Syrian Rebels the U.S. Wants to Arm and Train?". NBC News. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  317. Zengerle, Patricia; Lawder, David (18 September 2014). "U.S. Congress approves arming Syrian rebels, funding government". Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  318. Schwartz, Felicia; Entous, Adam; Albayrak, Ayla (10 October 2014). "Turkey to Help Train and Equip Moderate Syrian Rebels". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  319. Entous, Adam; Albayrak, Ayla; Fitch, Asa (11 October 2014). "Turkey Agrees to Train Syrian Opposition on Home Soil to Fight Islamic State". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  320. "Petition calls on White House to officially arm YPG". Today's Zaman. Ankara, Turkey. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  321. Beck, John (20 October 2014). "US Airdrops Weapons to Kobanî, Turkey to Allow Kurdish Peshmerga Into Town". Vice News. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  322. Pandey; Avaneesh (20 October 2014). "Turkey Shifts Stance To Help Iraqi Kurds Join Fight Against ISIS In Syria's Kobani". International Business Times. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  323. 1 2 3 Cooper, Hayden (28 October 2014). "Islamic State: Kurdish Peshmerga troops leave Iraq to join battle in Kobane". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  324. BAKER, PETER; COOPER, HELENE (30 October 2015). "Obama Sends Special Operations Forces to Help Fight ISIS in Syria". The New York Times. WASHINGTON. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  325. "Leaked report: SAS on ground in Libya for months". the telegraph. 25 March 2016.
  326. "US military names coalition operation against Islamic State 'Inherent Resolve'". Al-Ahram. Reuters. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  327. Sisk, Richard (18 August 2014). "US Operation Against ISIL in Iraq Remains Nameless". Military.com. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  328. Walker, Hunter (3 October 2014). "The War On ISIS Has 'No Name". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  329. Linkins, Jason (3 October 2014). "The Military Can't Come Up With A Name For Its War Against ISIS. We're Here To Help". Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  330. "Turkey greenlights military ops in Syria, Iraq". Al Arabiya. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  331. Tait, Robert (29 September 2014). "ISIL jihadists bombard Syrian border town despite allied air strikes". Daily Telegraph. Mürşitpınar, Turkey. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  332. "Turkey's Syria buffer zone idea not well received". China Central Television. Xinhua News Agency. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  333. "For Obama, enforcing no-fly zone in Syria would mean war or cooperation with Assad government". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  334. Rosen, Armin (1 October 2014). "ISIS Is Closing In On A Turkish Enclave Inside Of Syria — And Ankara Is Facing A Huge Dilemma". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  335. "Turkey enters Syria to evacuate Suleyman Shah tomb". BBC News. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  336. "Islamic State: PM Tony Abbott says Government to decide in coming days on order to join Iraq air strikes". ABC News (Australia). 26 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  337. Bolen, Michael (3 October 2014). "Harper Says Canada Will Bomb ISIS In Syria If Murderous Despot Asks Him To". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  338. Mullen, CNN, Jethro (21 October 2015). "Canada to pull out of bombing campaign against ISIS". CNN. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  339. "Ministr Zaorálek podpořil mezinárodní úsilí v boji proti tzv. Islámskému státu" (in Czech). Government of the Czech Republic. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  340. "Cancillería ecuatoriana califica como 'inaceptable' la ofensiva contra Siria". El Comercio (in Spanish). 25 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  341. Morris, Loveday (23 September 2014). "Arab backing for U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria widens front against Islamic State". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  342. Morello, Carol; Gearan, Anne (23 September 2014). "Around world, mixed reactions to U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  343. 1 2 3 Koplowitz, Howard (11 September 2014). "Obama ISIS Speech Reaction: Germany, Turkey Won't Join Airstrikes In Syria; UK Won't Rule Them Out". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  344. Saul, Heather (23 September 2014). "Syria air strikes: Iran 'says US attacks on Isis are illegal'". The Independent. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  345. "Iran warns of risk to Israel's security should US seek overthrow of Assad". The Guardian. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  346. Torry, Harriet; Winning, Nicholas; Meichtry, Stacy (11 September 2014). "Mixed International Reaction to Obama Plan on Islamic State". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  347. "Rutte: begrip voor bombardement Syrië (Dutch)". Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  348. "Lavrov: Unclear what exactly US is doing in Syria & why results so insignificant". RT English. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  349. "'More than 90%' of Russian airstrikes in Syria have not targeted Isis, US says". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  350. Albayrak, Ayla; Parkinson, Joe (30 September 2014). "Turkey Government to Ask Parliament for Approval to Join Campaign Against Islamic State". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  351. Sparrow, Andrew; Phipps, Claire (26 September 2014). "UK parliament approves air strikes against Isis in Iraq – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  352. Coles, Isabel (13 October 2014). "Britain sees no early demand from U.S. for air strikes in Syria". The Daily Star. Reuters. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  353. "UN chief welcomes airstrikes in Syria". Daily Star. Associated Press. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  354. Shankar, Sneha (25 September 2014). "Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro Calls For 'Re-Founding' Of UN; Slams US-Led Airstrikes In Iraq And Syria". International Business Times. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  355. "Venezuela leader calls ISIS a Western 'Frankenstein'". Al Arabiya. Agence France-Presse. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  356. Karam, Zeina (30 September 2014). "Syrian Foreign Minister: The US Said 'We Are Not After The Syrian Army' Before Airstrikes". Business Insider. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  357. Karam, Zeina (22 September 2014). "Syrian Opposition Chief Urges Airstrikes in Syria". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 October 2014. We must begin airstrikes in Syria — immediately as we speak. Time is of essence to avert catastrophe
  358. "The will and the way: The coalition may already be losing the fight against Islamic State". The Economist. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  359. "Rapidly unravelling: Bashar Assad's impunity is undermining the fight against Islamic State". The Economist. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  360. "Can hell be frozen over?: A limited UN ceasefire plan has little hope of success". The Economist. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.