US airstrikes kill 70 IS fighters in Syria

The first airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria, launched by both the US and Arab allied states, have killed a reported 70 militants, according to activists on Tuesday.

"Our initial indication is that these strikes were very successful," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday. "Last night's strikes were only the beginning."

Activists at the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), have reported that at least 70 militants were killed in the north east of the country during Monday's air raids.

The strikes targeted the cities of Deir al-Zour, Hassakeh, Abu Kamal and Raqqa, an IS stronghold in eastern Syria that was captured in 2013.

The airstrikes took place without the consent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been condemned by the international community in the past for waging a brutal civil war in his own country. It is unclear how Assad will react to the unauthorised air strikes, however it is known that the Syrian military does possess anti-aircraft missiles.

Some members of the international community, namely Russia and Iran, have criticised the actions of the US military, reportedly stating that the unauthorised airstrikes are a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, which the US has masked as a means to fight IS.

Under the presumption that airstrikes would target the group’s operations in Syria, IS had already dispersed some of their key assets.

The participation of other nations in the military action against IS is particularly significant. This spreads the responsibility of the action, meaning that IS’s targeted reprisals to nations who have engaged in military action will be difficult to carry out.

Analysts believe it is important that countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which have a Sunni majority, are among those taking military action against IS.