An F-22A rises into the night sky on Sept. 23, “somewhere in the US Central Command operations area,” to strike ISIS targets in northern Syria. The strikes marked the first-ever combat use of the F-22. (US Air Force photo by TSgt Russ Scalf)
Before dawn on September 23, US military forces were joined by several Gulf coalition partners in striking Islamic State targets in northern Syria. The strikes began with a flurry of 47 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), followed by two waves of strike aircraft dropping precision-guided munitions on a host of targets. Most of the aircraft in the third wave came from the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) operating in the Persian Gulf.
Below: F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters and EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft return to and launch from the Bush on Friday, Sept. 26. On this day, aircraft from the carrier were hitting ISIS targets in Iraq. (US Navy video)
This official video from Sept. 25 shows US Navy aircraft launching from the Bush against ISIS targets in Iraq.
The Sept. 23 strikes hit a range of targets across northern Syria. (US Department of Defense)
The US so far is refraining from giving the attacks on ISIS an operational name, like Operation Desert Storm or Operation Enduring Freedom. Historically, this is highly unusual.
Here’s a selection of videos and images showing the attacks.
Tomahawks fly from the cruiser Philippine Sea underway in the Persian Gulf. (US Navy)
Another series of Tomahawk launches from the Philippine Sea. (US Navy)
The view from the bridge of the cruiser Philippine Sea during the missile launches. (US Navy video)
Normally the bridge of a warship at sea at night is a very dark place. Not so on the morning of Sept. 23, 2014, as another Tomahawk launch lights up the bridge of the cruiser Philippine Sea. (US Navy photo by MC2 Abe McNatt)
The view from the carrier George H. W. Bush as the Philippine Sea shoots Tomahawks into the night sky. (US Navy)
Tomahawks arc toward Syria in this view of the Philippine Sea from the carrier George H. W. Bush. (US Navy photo by MC1 Class Eric Garst)
Another view of the Philippine Sea from the carrier George H. W. Bush. (US Navy photo by MC1 Class Eric Garst)
Tomahawks launch from the vertical launch system aboard the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke in the Red Sea. (US Navy)
Seen from the starboard bridge wing of the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, a Tomahawk cruise missile rises from the ship’s forward missile launchers on Sept. 23, 2014. (US Navy photo by U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Carlos Vazquez)
Another view of a Tomahawk leaving the Arleigh Burke’s forward vertical launch system. (US Navy photo by MC2 Carlos Vazquez)
Operations Specialist 1st Class Vincent Raschka keeps up a status board in the Arleigh Burke’s combat information center on Sept. 22. (US Navy photo by Carlos Vazquez)
F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft launch early on Sept. 23, 2014, from the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush in the Persian Gulf against ISIS targets in Syria. Most of these aircraft were involved in the third wave of attacks carried out that morning. (US Navy video)
The flight deck of the USS George H. W. Bush is alive as the ship launches war strikes on the morning of Sept. 23, 2014. Here, an F/A-18C Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 readies for launch at left. Two E-2C Hawkeyes of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124 are in the right foreground. (US Navy photo by MC3 Class Robert Burck)
An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31, and an F/A-18F Super Hornet of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 ready for takeoff from the Bush early on Sept. 23. (US Navy photo by MC3 Robert Burck)
An EA-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134 readies for launch from the Bush early on Sept. 23. This is one of the last carrier deployments for the venerable Prowler, now being phased out of the fleet. (US Navy photo by MC3 Robert Burck)
“Somewhere in the US Central Command area of responsibility,” a US Air Force F-22A Raptor begins to taxi to a takeoff Sept. 23 to strike ISIS operations in Syria. (US Air Force photo by TSgt Russ Scalf)
Vehicles at left light the way as an F-22A Raptor begins its mission on Sept. 23. (US Air Force photo by TSgt Russ Scalf)
An F-22A from Air Combat Command’s 1st Fighter Wing begins its first combat mission on Sept. 23. (US Air Force photo by TSg Russ Scalf)
Another F-22A moves out Sept. 23 to strike ISIS targets. (US Air Force photo by TSgt Russ Scalf)
An F-15E Strike Eagle from the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lankenheath, UK, taxis for takeoff Sept. 23 while operating in CENTCOM. (US Air Force photo by TSgt Russ Scalf)
One of the most important keys to the success of the strike aircraft is the availability of tankers, like this US Air Force KC-10 Extender preparing for the missions of Sept. 23. (US Air Force photo by MAJ Jefferson S. Heiland)
As dawn breaks on Sept. 23, two US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles pass over northern Iraq as they return to base after hitting ISIS targets in Syria. (US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Bruch)
Night vision goggles footage of US Air Force F-16s getting fuel from a US KC-135 Stratotanker, Sept. 23, 2014, during air strikes against ISIL in Syria.
An F-22A Raptor drinks fuel from a KC-10 Extender tanker after hitting ISIS targets in Syria on Sept. 23. (US Air Force photo by MAJ Jefferson S. Heiland)
The strikes against ISIS marked the first-ever combat use of the F-22A. (US Air Force photo by MAJ Jefferson S. Heiland)
An F-22A falls away after tanking from a KC-10. (US Air Force photo by MAJ Jefferson S. Heiland)
Closeup of the same F-22A. Note the aircraft’s refueling doors in the middile of the top fuselage are open. (US Air Force photo by MAJ Jefferson S. Heiland)
RESULTS
As ISIL building and tanks are hit on Sept. 23. (DoD video)
Weapons system video of US airstrike against an ISIL compound northwest of Ar Raqqah, Syria, Sept. 23, 2014. (DoD video)
ISIL storage facility near Abu Kamal, Syria, struck by US strike aircraft Sept. 23, 2014. (DoD video)
ISIL storage facility near Abu Kamal, Syria, struck by US strike aircraft Sept. 23, 2014. (DoD video)
US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets seen from a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker after an aerial refueling operation over nothern Iraq on Sept. 23. These aircraft, flying from the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush, took part in the strikes against ISIS targets in northern Syria. Two F/A-18Es from Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31) are at top, while a two-seat F/A-18F from VFA-213 is at bottom. (US Air Force photo by SSGT Shawn Nickel)
The same aircraft in sharper sunlight. (US Air Force photo by SSGT Shawn Nickel)
Sept. 24 strikes
US airstrike on Jeribe West Modular Refinery, Syria, Sept. 24, 2014. (DoD video)
US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles hit the Mayadin Modular Refinery on Sept. 24. (DoD video)
Christopher P. Cavas
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