Pentagon: US, Partners Begin Airstrikes In Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and five Arab countries have launched airstrikes on militants in the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

The airstrikes were carried out Monday night Eastern Time, and activists say not only did they target the Islamic State group, resulting in casualties, but also the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

One target was the Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State's self-declared capital in Syria.

Syria's foreign ministry says Washington informed the Syrian envoy to the United Nations before launching the airstrikes along with Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

Also, the United States on its own carried out an air attack on what it calls an al-Qaida affiliate west of the city of Aleppo. U.S. Central Command says American warplanes launched eight airstrikes "to disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests."

They targeted training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communication building and command and control facilities.