Air strikes hit IS heartland

A Syrian woman has used a hidden camera to record what life is really like in the ISIS-held city of Raqqa. Courtesy France 2
Mission accomplished ... a US F-15E Strike Eagle flies over northern Iraq, after conducting airstrikes in Syria. Picture: US Air Force/Matthew Bruch Source: AP
THE US-LED coalition has hit Islamic State group targets in Syria’s central province of Homs for the first time as it pressed what Washington says are “near continuous” strikes, a monitoring group says.
The coalition also targeted IS in the town of Minbej, east of second city Aleppo, for the first time on Saturday, as well as multiple targets in the jihadist heartland province of Raqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the targets hit in Homs province were far away from the front line with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, who control Homs city, Syria’s third largest.
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Source of wealth ... US-led coalition planes bombed oil installations and other facilities in territory controlled by Islamic State militants in eastern Syria. Picture: US Air Force/Matthew Bruch Source: AP
“The US-Arab coalition has for the first time struck IS bases in the eastern desert of Homs province,” Abdel Rahman said, adding that the positions were in the area of Al-Hammad, east of ancient city Palmyra.
Washington has been keen not to let Mr Assad’s forces exploit the air campaign against IS to take the upper hand in the more than three-year-old civil war.
In eastern Aleppo province - the western limit of IS control - the coalition hit several jihadist targets in Minbej, said the Observatory, which relies on a broad network of activists and doctors for its reports.
Gathering influence ... an image taken from a video released by Islamic State group's official Al-Raqqa site via YouTube on September 23, 2014, allegedly shows Islamic State group recruits at a training ground. Source: AFP
Further east, the coalition pounded the city of Raqa, which the jihadists have made their headquarters, the Britain-based group said.
“At least 31 explosions were heard in Raqa city and its surroundings.”
The strikes also hit IS targets around the town of Tabqa, which houses an air base whose capture by the jihadists last month sealed their occupation of the whole of Raqa province, as well as two training camps, the Observatory added.
Jihadist position ... members of the Islamic State group atop a damaged display of a government fighter jet after the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria. Picture: Raqqa Media Center of the IS Source: AP
The United States and its Arab allies launched air strikes against IS and other jihadist positions in northern and eastern Syria on Tuesday.
A US defence official said on Friday that the mission is now similar to US-led air raids against IS in Iraq, with “near continuous” combat flight operations over Syria.
Meanwhile, British warplanes have flown their first mission over Iraq since being given parliamentary authority to strike at Islamic State jihadists, the Ministry of Defence in London says.
A last-minute appeal ... a protester holds a placard outside the UK Houses of Parliament where lawmakers voted in favour of joining air strikes against Islamic State militants. Picture: Justin Tallis Source: AFP
Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 combat jets, armed with Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, took off from Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base on Cyprus on Saturday.
In an operation that began before dawn, the jets were loaded with Paveways before taking off from the Mediterranean island.
British lawmakers on Friday voted overwhelmingly to join the US-led air strikes in northern Iraq. They have been conducting reconnaissance missions over Iraq, but their role will now change to striking IS targets following parliament’s vote.
Attack role ... the Union flag flies outside the Houses of Parliament as British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that military action against Islamic State militants could last for "years". Picture: Justin Tallis Source: AFP
The vote followed a formal request for help from the Iraqi government. “We can confirm that, following parliamentary approval given yesterday, RAF Tornados continue to fly over Iraq and are now ready to be used in an attack role as and when appropriate targets are identified,” a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.
“For operational security reasons we will not be providing a running commentary on movements; we will provide an update on activity when it is appropriate to do so.”

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