Pentagon to send warplanes, airmen to Middle East to fight ISIL
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:18AM GMT
The US military will send a dozen A-10 combat jets and 300 airmen to the Middle East in early October for six months to help the fight against the ISIL terrorist group.
The warplanes would be in a support role, said Second Lt. Christopher Myers, public affairs officer for the 122nd Fighter Wing.
The Pentagon said that it began airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria on Tuesday.
Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed that US military and partner nation forces were undertaking military action against terrorists in Syria.
Col. Patrick Renwick, 122nd Fighter Wing commander, said in a statement the deployment of airmen and combat jets was historic for its length and size relative to previous Air National Guard deployments.
According to the statement, the airmen have been through extensive preparation, ranging from 'cultural awareness to weapons qualification to medical training.'
The airstrikes were carried out by manned Air Force and Navy aircraft. The Tomahawk missiles were also launched from American warships in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates helped the United States in the new bombing campaign in Syria.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that Washington informed Syria's permanent envoy to the United Nations that strikes would be launched against the terrorists in the province of Raqqa.
AGB/AGB
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