U.S Department of Defense Reports Details on ISIL Fighting

The U.S Department of Defense reported “Dec. 12, 2014 Update – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec 10-12 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes.

Five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and also struck another ISIL fighting position. Near Aleppo, an airstrike struck five ISIL-occupied buildings. Near al-Qaim, on the Syrian border, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL fortifications.

All aircraft exited the strike areas safely. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.” Counties all around the world are now participating in the affront on the ISIL fighters.  Countries including Albania, Germany, The Netherlands, Andorra, Greece, New Zealand, Arab League, Hungary, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Oman, Austria, Italy, Poland, and many more are conducting or supporting attacks against the terrorists.

The U.S Department of Defense also reported that in Iraq “our airstrikes near Sinjar destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle and two ISIL storage containers and also struck another ISIL armored vehicle and an ISIL checkpoint. Near Ramadi, four airstrikes destroyed an excavator and five ISIL vehicles and also struck an ISIL-occupied building and three ISIL units. Near Ar Rutbah, three airstrikes destroyed two bulldozers and an ISIL storage container. Near Mosul, three airstrikes destroyed a bunker and a bulldozer and also struck an excavator. Near al-Qaim, three airstrikes destroyed four ISIL vehicles, two ISIL-occupied buildings, an ISIL storage container, and an ISIL guard tower and also struck an ISIL bunker. Near Samarra, an airstrike struck a large ISIL unit. Near Rawah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL guard shack. Near Al Asad an airstrike struck an ISIL staging area.”

The damage is adding up but will it be enough to keep the U.S out of a ground war? I believe that we will be forced into a ground war and will not be able to completely wipe out an entire army using only airstrikes. 

Syrian Refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said "The Syrian crisis has become the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era, yet the world is failing to meet the needs of refugees and the countries hosting them," in relation to refugees fleeing Syria for the last couple years.

According to “Al Jazeera and agencies” a total of 6.5 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes, representing about 30 percent of Syria's pre-war population of 23 million. Over half of all those who uprooted are children, the UN said, describing "cities where populations are surrounded, people are going hungry and civilians are being targeted or indiscriminately killed".

Organizations such as the UN and The World Food Program have been raising money through donations to cover the costs of the refugees, the World Food Program is asking for $1 donations to restore food vouchers for hungry families in desperate need for help. The World Food Program is reportedly short on the funds required to help the refugees by as much as $600 million and the situation is only getting worse.

I feel that it’s important for people to remain informed about what is going on in the world, how can you judge how the world works or claim to have reasonable opinion if you are not informed about the happenings in the world. It is very sad that these people’s lives are being destroyed but I challenge everyone to take a step farther than simply feeling bad, take action! There are many organizations you can donate as little as $1 and it really does make a difference, even $1 can help feed hungry families and save children’s lives, make a difference! What is the point of living so well in America if others are suffering and you can help them by giving something you won’t even miss? It all becomes very real when you become informed and you see the damage for yourself, challenge yourselves and do something that is bigger than yourself, help a family in need.

Possible ISIS Chemical Attacks on Kurdish Civilians, U.S “Prepared to Act”

Several unconfirmed reports have been made by reporters and even one Kurdish official that chemical weapons have been used on civilians in Kobani. Asya Abdullah says that it is possible that “It could have been a silent missile” or even “a missile placed in the neighborhood beforehand,” Abdullah claims that “We are investigating the situation but do not have the necessary technical equipment or expertise."

The city is severely struggling to take care of  the injured or sick civilians, one of the only 4 doctors in the city reported that “Several patients came to health center at 11:10 p.m. with burn in the throat, as well as complaining about headache, though their situation is not very severe." It is also reported that most of the fighting is no longer going on in the center of the town, but around it.

Syria agreed to give up their chemical weapons when Obama threatened them with a missile strike last fall; however it seems that not all weapons were given up. In September the president said “I welcome the progress made between the United States and Russia through our talks in Geneva, which represents an important, concrete step toward the goal of moving Syria's chemical weapons.” The president also reassured citizens that “if diplomacy fails, the United States remains prepared to act.”

Canada Gets Involved With Islamic State Fight

"Canada Sunday conducted its first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The Canadian Defense Ministry said two CF-18 combat jets dropped laser-guided missiles near Fallujah in a mission that lasted about four hours, the CBC said." wrote Marcy Krieter in the International Business Times. This is a monumental moment for several meanings. First of all this shows the growing involvement of other countries all around the world. Countries like Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates have recently become involved in fighting the Islamic State militants. The second reason this development is important is that this conflict is becoming a worldwide conflict; it is not confined to the Middle East any longer. As more countries get involved the stakes get raised a little bit higher, it is almost scary but also exciting thinking about what is going to happen next.

ISIL Update

     Intelligence reports that IS or ISIS captured a police station on Wednesday October 9th but the building was hit by coalition jets later that day, In the town of Kobani 11 IS fighters were killed by Kurdish fighters. So far today (October 10th) the U.S has conducted 9 airstrikes on Kobani destroying equipment and killing many troops, however IS still controls 1/3 of the town. Obama wrote in the Tampa Bay times that “Our intelligence community has not yet detected specific ISIL plots against America. But its leaders have repeatedly threatened America and our allies, and if left unchecked, they could pose a growing threat to the United States,” British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed British parliament stating that "ISIL is a terrorist organization unlike those we have dealt with before, their brutality is staggering." he continued to say that ISIL "is backed by millions of dollars and has captured an arsenal of the most modern weapons." Parliament the approved airstrikes against ISIL.

     A month ago the president addressed Americans updating the country on the recent events that have taken place. The president says that "ISIL is a terrorist organization, pure and simple, and it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way." Obama also told the American people that ISIL will "kill children, [and] they enslave, rape, and force women into marriage." Recently two American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were beheaded by IS militants, Over 150 airstrikes have been carried out against ISIL in an affect to destroy them reports the president.  

            

ISIS

Islamic terrorists have been busy with mass executions, selling women as slaves, and using children to fight against enemy forces. It has been reported by the U.N that as many as “9,347 civilians” have been killed through September. U.N High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said "The array of violations and abuses perpetrated by ISIL and associated armed groups is staggering, and many of their acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity," Terrorists are reportedly using buildings suck as schools to make IED's and plan attacks. The violence of this group knows no limits, they have been know to torture, behead, and sell their victims. 

The Middle East

The Middle East has long been in conflict with the United States and with itself. Since Russia invaded Iran in 1941 during World War Two the U.S has constantly had a military presence there and has defended their interests in surrounding countries. Starting in 2001 a war began in Afghanistan in the Ghalmin District where the Taliban began to rise up against the Afghan government. The Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan bombed places like the capital of Kabul or places like Camp Chapman in 2009.  In 2003 the U.s invaded Iraq and began a conflict that would not be resolved for many years. Now the U.S had been sending troops to fight in countries such as Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.