Syrian Airstrikes Begin

It is being reported that the United States has begun its airstrikes on Syria as it takes the battle to ISIS or the Islamic State.

“I can confirm that U.S. military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles,” said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary. “Given that these operations are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide additional details at this time.”

The attack, carried out by warplanes dropping bombs and ships firing cruise missiles, hit about 20 IS targets, including headquarters buildings for the militants who have based their movement in Syria, according to a senior Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the attack.

The Pentagon acknowledged responsibility for the attack in a brief statement.

UPDATED 5:55am 9/23/14:

Israel downs Syrian warplane it says violated its Golan airspace – goo.gl/news/X6OEI via news.google.com

Also more here:

https://news.yahoo.com/syria-says-washington-informed-strikes-043250875.html

A warplane from forces loyal to the regime of Syrian president Bashar Assad was shot down by the IDF after it violated Israeli air space over the Golan Heights on Tuesday morning. “It was a Russian-made Sukhoi,” a military spokesman said, adding that Israeli radar had tracked the aircraft as it approached the border near Quneitra and alerted a Patriot air defense battery which fired a single interceptor missile, destroying the invading aircraft. The incident came hours after US military aircraft began striking targets inside Syria belonging to the Islamic State (IS, formally ISIS) terror militia. “I can confirm that US military and partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles,” said Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby. Read More