Published : Sept. 28, 2014 - 21:24
U.S. aircraft were flying “near continuous” bombing raids against Islamic State militants in Syria, officials said late Friday, after Britain and two more EU nations agreed to join the U.S.-led air armada.
The mission is now similar to U.S.-led air raids undertaken in Iraq, a senior U.S. defense official said.
Belgium, Britain and Denmark earlier approved plans to join the war in the air, but Washington warned that up to 15,000 “moderate” rebels would need to be trained and armed to beat back the militants in Syria, where they have set up their de facto capital.
Britain’s House of Commons voted by 524 lawmakers to 43 to back a motion authorizing air strikes in Iraq.
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said there would be no “immediate military action” but that it would be a “long, drawn-out campaign.”
Bahrain, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have already been hitting IS targets.
The Netherlands is also sending six F-16 jets and will provide 250 military personnel and 130 trainers for the Iraqi military, and Greece said it would send arms to Kurdish forces in Iraq.
In recent days, Washington and its allies have targeted the funding sources of what U.S. President Barack Obama has branded a “network of death.” (AFP)