U.S. Airstrikes Archives

By Debbie Gregory.

While U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have been heavily hyped in the media, efforts against al-Qaida have continued in multiple countries. As part of these efforts, two high-profile al-Qaida leaders have recently been reported to have been eliminated by U.S. airstrikes in Yemen and in Libya.

The U.S. reported that a June 12^th airstrike conducted in Yemen has eliminated al-Qaida’s second most powerful figure, Nasir al-Wahishi, the terrorist group’s commander of its presence in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. For several years, al-Wahishi served as Osama bin Laden’s personal aide before taking command of al-Qaida in Yemen in 2002. In 2009, al-Wahishi also absorbed control of al-Qaida operations in Saudi Arabia, forming the group al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The deceased is responsible for calling for violence in and against western countries, especially the United States. He was listed as one of the most wanted fugitives listed by the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as well as the U.S.

Al-Wahishi’s death is being heralded as a huge blow to al-Qaida. Not only will a-Qaida suffer the loss of his experience and leadership in Yemen, but losing al-Wahishi also creates a big hole across the entire terrorist organization across the globe.

Also last week, the U.S. carried out airstrikes in Libya, reportedly targeting Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian terrorist who was once an al-Qaida senior leader. He left the group in 2012 to form his own organization called the al-Mulathameen (“The Masked”) Brigade. Belmokhtar’s group is responsible for the January, 2013 Algerian hostage siege. Thirty-nine of the hostages were executed.

On June 15th, Libya’s government announced that Belmokhtar had been killed in the airstrike along with seven others. The U.S. has not yet confirmed Belmokhtar’s death. On June 16th, an Islamist militant group issued a statement denying the claims of Belmokhtar’s demise. No proof of life, or death, has yet been reported, as of this writing.

While similar in the minds of most Americans, al-Qaida and the Islamic State are two vastly different organizations, with differing goals and ideologies. While both are Islamic extremist terrorist groups, the similarity ends there. The two organizations are actually in competition with each other for recruits and other resources. Al-Qaida has declared a Jihad against the west, and the Islamic State is bent on cleansing the world of non-believers and Islamic hypocrites.

Let us continue to hope for success in the ongoing efforts to degrades and ultimately defeat both al-Qaida and the Islamic State in all countries around the world.

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Airstrikes Deliver Blow to al-Qaida: Military Connection: By Debbie Gregory

On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation regarding his intent on how to handle the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

ISIS has declared a separate Islamic state in lands that the terrorist organization has seized from the sovereignty of Iraq and Syria. In 2014 alone, ISIS has already taken over nearly one-third of Iraq’s territory.

As of August 7^th of this year, the president has authorized airstrikes against ISIS forces that have been carried out by U.S. military manned and unmanned aircraft. The airstrikes have offered much needed support for Iraqi defense and Kurdish forces fighting ISIS on the ground. The support has even helped them take back the captured Mosul Dam from ISIS control.

Members of Congress and the American public have asked what the long-term goals and strategy are, and the president has responded.In a recent press conference, President Obama stated his intention to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS. The president said that the U.S. will lead a coalition committed to eliminating ISIS by expanding airstrikes into Iraq and Syria.

The speech came one day after the White House asked Congress to approve $500 million to train and equip Syrian rebels in order for them to fight ISIS on the ground. Many lawmakers and many more Veterans are concerned with arming and equipping another group in the region. The U.S. has an unfortunate history of our own weapons being used against us when either the arms are confiscated by our enemies, or by having a fighting force that we equipped turn against us.

Many voices in Washington have expressed that they don’t see airstrikes as being enough to completely stop or eliminate ISIS. This has many Americans, including legislators, divided as to whether our military should get more involved, or stay out of the fight all together.

Americans, in the capital and around the country, were hoping for a more definitive answer in terms of a strategy for dealing with ISIS. But at least the biggest question has been answered, for now. The president has ruled out sending American ground forces to their third war in Iraq in 25 years.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard &amp,amp,amp, Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.