Airstrikes Against ISIS
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The use of air strikes against the fighters of the
Islamic State by the
United States began in early August 2014. The first airstrikes were very
limited. The first day the U.S. attacked some gun positions threatening
Erbil - the capital of the Iraq Kurd area and provided some support to the
trapped
Yazidis on top
of
Mount Sinjar
(located in northwestern Iraq along the Syrian border).
The air strikes continued through August with the use of Navy and Air
Force fighters and unarmed UAVs (drones). The attacks continued in the
Sinjar area keeping ISIL at bay and in support of Peshmerga units engaged
with the ISIL fighters. In September the airstrikes hit Sunni rebels in
areas in the Tigris River Valley and Anbar Province. In late
September and early October ISIS targets in Syria were struck.
Justification for Airstrikes
The U.S. president authorized the use of limited airstrikes on August 7,
2014. The reason provided by the U.S. government
2. was that U.S. personnel in the city of Erbil were threatened
by ISIL forces just "minutes" from the city. In addition, there was a
humanitarian crisis that needed attention (the Yazidis). Since then the
airstrikes have been offensive in nature - striking a variety of ISIS
targets in Syria and Iraq.
Effectiveness of Air Strikes
Air strikes can hit easily identifiable targets on the ground - mass
troops, artillery positions, convoys, etc. The strikes are less effective
in cities and against small groups of fighters that can blend into the
populace and urban areas. 1. So the
United States has to judiciously use the air power at its disposal in
Iraq. There were some indications that the early results of airstrikes
were not being seen after the Islamic State fighters adapted to the
airstrikes.
Congressional Authorization of Iraq Airstrikes?
Once again, whenever the U.S. intervenes military in any part of the
world, Congress wants to know about it and many members want a "vote".
3. The current air campaign in Iraq
against fighers of the Islamic State is no exception.
Will Airstrikes Cause the Enemy to Attack the U.S. Homeland?
Some believe that the use of U.S. airpower in the United States puts the
homeland more at risk for attacks - such as the September 11, 2001
attacks. 4. The use of U.S. airpower
takes a country civil war (Sunni against Shia) and escalates it to the
international level. The worldwide jihadist movement can now justify their
attacks against the U.S. homeland - pointing to U.S. airstrikes in Iraq.
In fact, there are recent news reports 5.
that indicate that the Islamic State is establishing cells in Western
Europe and possibly in the United States.
Expansion Beyond Initial Mission
The initial airstrikes were performed under the justification of
humanitarian assistance and protection of U.S. embassy and military
personnel in Erbil. Subsequent airstrikes supported the retaking of the
Mosul Dam. Later air strikes in September 2014 airstrikes were conducted
in the western province of Anbar 6.
(under the guise of humanitarian assistance - securing the Haditha Dam).
Events in September 2014
In early October more members of the anti-ISIS coalition
committed their aircraft to the fight. Britain's Royal Air Force
conducted airstrikes in Iraq on September 30, 2014.
7.
Events in October 2014
As of early October the Pentagon estimates that the cost of the
war - beginning in mid-June has exceeded $1 billion. Most of this
was the cost of airstrikes - either from manned aircraft or cruise
missions fired off by the Navy. 8.
Anti-ISIS Coalition Members Conducting Airstrikes
There are a number of anti-ISIS coalition members conducting
airstrikes against ISIS. Some are hitting targets in Iraq and some
are hitting targets in Syria and some in both countries. Some of
these countries include Jordan, Canada, Australia, UAE, France, Belguim,
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Maps about Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
Air Bases Used by Coalition Countries Against the Islamic State
(Stratfor)
www.stratfor.com/analysis/uae-resumes-sorties-against-islamic-state
Papers about Airstrikes in Iraq (and Syria)
Cordesman, Anthony H. The Air War Against the Islamic State:
The Need for An "Adequacy of Resources", Center for Strategic &
International Studies (CSIS), October 13, 2013.
http://csis.org/publication/air-war-against-islamic-state-need-adequacy-resources
Driver, Strobe. Airpower Hopes: The West Verses, the Islamic
State, and the Evolution of Warfare, E-International
Relations, December 21, 2014.
www.e-ir.info/2014/12/21/aipower-hopes-the-west-verses-the-islamic-state-and-the-evolution-of-warfare/
Videos about Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
January 14, 2016. 25 Years of Bombing Iraq, Center for Strategic
& Internaitonal Studies (CSIS). The air attacks over the past quarter of a
century have taken place in 5 phases.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUttCk0L8Zw
June 3, 2015.
"This is How Little the US-Led Air War Against ISIS Has Achieved". By
Ben Watson, Defense One. Video depicts lack of success of U.S.
airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from August 8, 2014 to May 31,
2015. (2 mins 40 seconds long).
News Stories about Airstrikes in Iraq
January 18, 2016.
"Airpower: Just Part of the Counterinsurgency Equation", Small
Wars Journal. Christopher A. Lawrence, Executive Director and
President of the Dupuy Institute argues that airpower is limited in what
it can accomplish against insurgencies.
January 13, 2016.
"Air Force to Delay A-10 Retirement, Thanks to ISIS". Defense
One. After trying to retire the battle-tested Warthog for the past
two years, Air Force officials concede that the plane is key to the war
on ISIS.
January 7, 2016.
"Kill-Em-All With Airstrikes Is Not Working", by Micah Zenko of
Council on Foreign Relations, posted on Best Defense,
January 7, 2016. 30,000 fighters - 20,000 killed = 30,000 fighters.
June 5, 2015.
"Commander defends ISIS air war's effectiveness". Military
Times. Air Force Lt. Gen. John Hesterman says that the U.S. is
conducting an effective air campaign in spite of withering comments from
critics that suggest otherwise.
June 3, 2015.
"US Official: Airstrikes Killed 10,000 Islamic State Fighters".
Military.com. A U.S. State Department official may have released
classified information by mistake. If true, then 10,000 would be 1/3 of
the Islamic State's strength - but some question the accuracy of the
figure, how much these losses have hampered ISIS, and the effectiveness
of airstrikes in general.
June 2, 2015.
"Risk outweighs reward in deploying airstrike spotters, officials say".
USA Today. The use of Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs) would
enhance air strikes but there would be casualties.
May 18, 2015.
"Why
ISIS Can Still Defeat the Iraqi Army in Spite of U.S. Help".
Time.com. American air strikes cannot compensate for divisions and
distrust between the Shi'ite majority and the Sunni minority.
February 22, 2015.
"Pittard: JTACS May Be Deployed to Iraq". Defense News. MG
Pittard of Third Army in Kuwait says there may be a need tof JTACs in a
limited role.
February 12, 2015.
"The UAE Resumes Sorties Against the Islamic State". Stratfor
Global Intelligence. A squadron of UAE F-16 fighters are now based in
Jordan. The UAE resumed air strikes against the Islamic State after the
captured Jordanian pilot was burned alive by ISIS and the U.S. moved some
Personnel Recovery assets closer to the engagement area.
February 10, 2015.
"UAE rejoins airstrike operations against Islamic State". The
Washington Post. The UAE deployed some jets to Jordan shortly after
the IS killed a captive Jordanian pilot.
January 6, 2015.
"Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq". DoD News.
January 5, 2015.
"Combined Joint Task Force Continues Airstrikes Against ISIL".
DOD News.
October 21, 2014.
"Iraqi officials call for U.S. to step up airstrikes, military aid".
Los Angeles Times. Iraq says U.S. air campaign is too modest.
U.S. spokesmen respond that weather, presidential constraints, and Iraq
ownership of the war limits air campaign.
October 17, 2104.
"Air Campaign Against ISIS Is Just Getting Off the Ground", by Brian
Micheal Jenkins, The RAND Blog. Jenkins argues that the air
campaign needs more time to be effectively judged.
October 14, 2014.
The Air Campaign Against ISIS (II): Military Parnerships Will Be the
Deciding Factor, Defense in Depth Blog, Council on Foreign
Relations. A good article on the Arab nations providing air support in the
fight against ISIS. Worth commenting is the title of the article includes
the word "deciding" yet there is not one mention of the word "ground
forces". Hmmmm.
October 7, 2014.
"Canadian Parliament Authorizes Air Strikes in Iraq". The New York
Times. Plans include deployment of six CF-18 fighter jets, a
refueling tanker aircraft, two surveillance planes and one airlift
aircraft. Canada already has special forces advisors deployed to Iraq with
plans to send more.
October 7, 2014.
"US Calls Kobani Airstrikes 'Useful' as Kurds Seek More Support".
Voice of America. Amid criticism that the airstrikes in Iraq
and Syria are not having the intended effect the US State Department is
countering with their own message.
October 6, 2014.
"U.S. strategy against Islamic State is too much air, not enough boots".
Los Angeles Times. Fred and Kim Kagan speak their mind saying
the air campaign is too limited to be effective and is unlikely to keep
the Islamic State from expanding the territory it controls. They suggest
that it is time to get American Special Forces on the ground working
with loyal Sunni tribes.
September 30, 2014.
The Air Campaign Against ISIS: Understanding What Air Strikes Can Do -
and What They Can't, Defense in Depth Blog, Council on Foreign
Relations.
September 25, 2014.
"Arab Allies Take Lead in Syria Airstrikes: F-22s Fade From View".
Breaking Defense.
September 25, 2014.
"CENTCOM releases new video of airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria".
Military Times.
September 25, 2014. "U.S. says airstrikes crippled most of small oil
refineries held by Islamic State in Syria". The Washington Post.
September 5, 2014.
"How to Defeat ISIL: It's All about the Strategy". By David Deptula,
Beaking Defense.
August 14, 2014. "Obama: U.S. to End Aid Drops in Iraq, but Airstrikes to
Continue". NPR at this
link.
August 14, 2014. "The Strengths and Limits of Air Power". The New York
Times at this
link. A discussion with Joe Felter, Rebecca Grant, Michael Wahid,
James Franklin, and Mark Clodfelter.
August 13, 2014. "10 days in Iraq: Aid drops, air-strikes and 200,000 new
refugees". BBC News Middle East at his
link.
August 13, 2014. "Vatican approves of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq". The
Washington Times at this
link.
August 12, 2014. "Americans Support Air Strikes in Iraq, but Strongly
Oppose Sending in Troops", The Huffington Post at this
link.
August 10, 2014. "U.S. airstrikes bring early gains in Iraq". USA
Today at this
link.
Endnotes
1. For more on the effectiveness of air strikes against ISIS see
"Airstrikes Can Only Do So Much to Combat ISIS", The New York Times,
by Joe Felter, August 13, 2014 at this
link.
2. For a justification of the airstrikes see "Airstrikes in Iraq: What You
Need to Know", The White House Blog, by Ben Rhodes, August 11,
2014 at this
link.
3. See "Tim Kaine wants congressional authorization of Iraq airstrikes",
The Washington Post, August 12, 2014 at this
link.
4. For more on U.S. homeland at risk due to airstrikes in Iraq see "Will
US Airstrikes Empower ISIS?", The Diplomat, August 14, 2014 at
this
link.
5. Read a news report suggesting that the IS will or has established cells
in Western Europe - "Islamic State working to establish cells outside
Middle East, U.S. says", The Washington Post, at this
link.
6. For more about airstrikes protecting the Haditha Dam see a
statement from the pentagon released on September 7, 2014.
7. See "U.K. Carries Out First Airstrikes in
Iraq", The Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2014 at this
link.
8. See "Pentagon: As much as $1.1 billion spent
on Iraq, Syria operations so far". Stars and Stripes at this
link.
9. See "US-led airstrikes against Islamic State
produce few gains", Stars and Stripes, October 7, 2014. at this
link.
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