US allies launch first air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria

US Defence Department, Pentagon has said that US and allied nations have launched the first air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. Pentagon Spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby told in Washington that fighter and bomber jets and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attack. However he didn't divulge the details as to where these air-strikes were carried and what has been the outcome . Agency reports quoting US defence department officials says, air-strikes may target as many as 20 sites. The move comes after US began aerial surveillance operations to track the Islamic State militants entrenched in parts of Syria earlier.
US President Obama earlier authorized US Central Command to begin air-strikes targeting Islamic State militants in Syria and expand its operations inside Iraq to degrade and destroy the militants. The militants have captured large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria and unleashed a reign of terror carrying out mass executions, ethnic cleansing and beheaded two US journalists and a British aid worker. In another development, France has ruled out conducting airstrikes in Syria targeting Islamic State group militants there.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told US Council on Foreign Relations that his Government conducted air-strikes in Iraq targeting militants at the request of the Iraqi Government to provide air protection.However the same is not possible in case of Syria. He also reiterated that France will continue to support the moderate Syrian opposition in its fight against the Syrian Government. The global coalition to fight the militants in Iraq and Syria is now comprised of around 40 western and Arab nations. Syria and Iran are not a party to the global coalition.Meanwhile, Syrian State Television has said the airstrikes by US and allied nations in Syria targeted the Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa as well as the areas near the Iraqi border. The targets were weapons supplies and buildings used by the militant group. Syrian opposition activist group, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the air strikes also hit checkpoints in Raqqa city and surrounding areas.