The United States and Arab allies have begun bombing Islamic State positions in Syria
Vowing to target the Islamic State with air strikes ‘wherever they exist’, Pres. Barack Obama pledged to lead a broad coalition to fight IS and work with ‘partner forces’ on the ground in Syria and Iraq.
The US military and partner forces have begun a bombing campaign against the Islamic State (IS) inside Syria, the Pentagon confirmed Monday night.
Using one of the acronyms for the terror group also known as ISIS, press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby wrote on Twitter that the joint forces had started "striking ISIL targets in Syria using mix of fighters, bombers and Tomahawk missiles."
The Associated Press reported that the strikes launched by manned aircraft and US ships in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea "were conducted by the US, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates."
The Syrian government was informed about the strikes in advance, the AP said.
The strikes targeted Raqqa, the city in northern Syria that has become the militants' stronghold, and up to 20 other positions, ABC News reported. Unverified reports on social media by individuals in Raqqa suggested that drones had been flying overhead shortly before the strikes began at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Watch ABC's early report:
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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