Dozens Killed as US Escalates Strikes Against ISIS in Syria

Saudi Cleric Reportedly Slain in Fighting in Kobani

Exact death tolls are unclear, but dozens of people were reported killed today as the US escalated its airstrikes against the ISIS capital of Raqqa and the contested city of Kobani.

The US launches daily airstrikes in both places, of course, but reports today are that the number of attacks are the highest since before December 24, when a Jordanian pilot involved in the air war was shot down and captured.

Raqqa is the de facto capital city of the ISIS caliphate, and indeed ISIS controls materially the entire Raqqa Province. In Kobani, ISIS is continuing to fight against Kurdish militias which hold much of the city.

ISIS reportedly lost an allied Saudi cleric today in Kobani, though there are conflicting reports as to whether he was killed in an airstrike, or in fighting with the Kurdish militias.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.