US and Arab coalition (but no European) forces launch 50 air strikes to destroy ISIS

American forces and five Arab nations have launched a wave of 50 bombing missions on ISIS strongholds across Syria.

17:05 23 September 2014

With the apparent goal to show ISIS that their attacks on hostages would not go unanswered, America and five Arab countries have launched a wave of 50 bombing missions overnight, as confirmed by US Army General Martin Dempsey.

'We will be prepared to strike ISIL targets in Syria that degrade ISIL's capabilities,' Dempsey told senators last week. 'This won't look like a shock-and-awe campaign, because that's simply not how ISIL is organized, but it will be a persistent and sustainable campaign.’

Of the ongoing strikes, he added: “We wanted to make sure that ISIL knew they have no safe haven, and we certainly achieved that.”

America said five Arab nations either participated in the airstrikes or provided unspecified support. They were Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates

Meanwhile, Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby, said that the decision to launch air strikes was made on Monday, only hours before the US Air Force and Navy pilots were given their missions and targets.

This morning, British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement that he supports the air strikes and that he’s ready to discuss what he can contribute to defeat ISIS.