U.S. begins air strikes against Islamic State from Turkish base; Ground Troops May Be Needed
(Worthy News) – The United States launched its first manned air strikes against Islamic State targets from the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on Wednesday, the U.S. military said.
The U.S.-led coalition had launched flying, unmanned missions against the militants earlier this month, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
Turkish fighter jets were not involved in the manned U.S. air strikes on Wednesday, Turkish security sources said. [ Source ]
Top General: US boots on the ground may be needed to defeat ISIL
Gen Raymond Odierno, the outgoing army chief of staff, said months of stalement meant that sending in US troops to embed with local forces was an option that should be put to President Barack Obama.
In recent weeks a number of senior US officials have admitted that Isil is replacing fighters just as fast as they have been killed by airstrikes and ground offensives.
“If we find in the next several months that we aren’t making progress, we should absolutely consider embedding some soldiers (in Iraq),” said Gen Odierno at his final press conference before retiring. “I think that’s an option we should present to the president.” [ Source ]
U.S. said it will create a safe zone on Syrian border. But nobody knows how.
U.S. and Turkish officials last month announced a landmark deal to fight the Islamic State, the militant group that has seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria. The agreement grants the United States access to Turkish air bases for swifter strikes against militants. It also envisions an area along the border that is free of extremists and protected by U.S. air power. Turkey hopes the safe zone will serve as a haven for the millions of Syrians who have fled across the border.
But while news of the deal has spurred hope among Syrians, neither the United States nor Turkey has offered details on how such a zone would be established and enforced. In the past two weeks, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra, have launched attacks in the area where the United States and Turkey hope to establish the zone. Analysts say any plans for a buffer zone will fail unless there is a will to organize, administer and police the region. [ Source ]