U.S. Confirms Action over Syria

(Newswire.net — August 26, 2014) Adelaide, SOUTH AUSTRALIA — It was confirmed by a senior U.S. government official that President Barak Obama has authorized the use of surveillance drones over Syria. This comes despite the fact that Syria’s Assad regime demanded that the U.S. seek permission before launching any type of airstrike within Syria against the Islamic State.

 

The clear threat of ISIS continues to grow as many consider recent events, like the brutal murder of American journalist, James Foley, showing the potential of terror threats being carried out on home soil by the extremist ISIS jihadists.

This recent decision to carry out drone surveillance on Islamic State targets is being seen by many to be laying the foundation for future airstrikes within Syria.

The request for drone surveillance came from the U.S. military’s Central Command, who is overseeing the American operations in the Middle East region. Drone surveillance was only one of several requests to gather more intelligence information about possible ISIS targets.

Since the gruesome and appalling video of the beheading of James Foley surfaced on the Internet last week, Obama has been shown to be taking a stronger stand against the terrorist group. Obama responded with a vow to remove the Islamic extremists, whom he called a “cancer,” from the Middle East.

What is considered to be “intrusive surveillance,” senior officials believe that his is a potential sign of imminent airstrikes over Syria. “The Pentagon is preparing to conduct reconnaissance flights over Syria,” said a senior U.S. official. He went on to state, “There is no decision yet to do strikes, but in order to help make that decision, you want to get as much situation awareness as possible.”

As further news of massacres occurring among innocent people in Iraq and Syria, as well as the threat by ISIS to behead another U.S. journalist, Steven Sotloff who is being held hostage, the White House are carefully considering each and every step they take in this politically delicate situation.

It seems that the Syrian government may look to capitalize on the seeming confusion and indecision within the U.S government over whether or not to carry out airstrikes over Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem said the Syrian government was ready “to cooperate and coordinate” with the U.S. against the Islamic State group. But in regards to any military action within Syria, al-Moallem said all action must be coordinated with the government “which represents Syrian sovereignty.” He went on to state, “Any strike which is not coordinated with the government will be considered as aggression.”

The American government was quick to respond to the comments made by the Syrian Foreign Minister. “Just because the Syrian regime may be taking on ISIL or …speaking publicly about that, and certainly the United States is, it certainly doesn’t mean we’re on the same side of the coin here,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.