On September 4, American officials stated that the US military targeted positions of the 'Islamic State' from inside Turkey using a 'new rocket launcher.' According to Josh Jacks, spokesperson for Central Command (overseeing US operations in West Asia and North Africa), the 'highly mobile rocket system' known as 'HIMARS' was used in 'successful attacks' on Friday against ISIS positions and buildings along the Syrian border with Turkey. Brett McGurk, the US President's representative in the coalition against the 'Islamic State,' also mentioned on Twitter that this 'recently deployed rocket launcher' was utilized in attacks against ISIS in Syria. HIMARS, which is mounted on medium-sized 'MTV' trucks, is capable of launching six surface-to-surface missiles with a range of nearly 500 kilometers, according to information released about the system. According to the French news agency, the spokesperson for Central Command stated that this system, which has 'very precise targeting and considerable range,' has been used to support US-backed forces in the fight against the 'Islamic State' in the region. Jacks noted that 'HIMARS is a rare system that reduces collateral damage from attacks, creates relatively little explosion compared to its impact, and is usable in all weather conditions.' The US Embassy in Ankara also tweeted about this, referring to it as 'the latest step in cooperation between the US and Turkey in the fight against ISIS.' HIMARS had previously been used in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the news of its use in attacks against the 'Islamic State' in Syria is new. According to the Central Command spokesperson, HIMARS has entered the coalition's regular attacks and its use will continue on the ground of a NATO member (Turkey) with the involvement of US military forces. The news of the deployment of this system in Turkey dates back to last May when the Turkish newspaper 'Sabah' quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying that NATO members hoped to use 'HIMARS' in supportive attacks on Western-backed rebels. Turkey is currently conducting operations in Syrian territory, targeting both a coalition of mainly Kurdish rebels who are supported by the US and ISIS positions. The US has called for a focus on attacks against the 'Islamic State' and a halt to the conflicts between Turkey and mainly Kurdish rebels, but these battles have continued and have recently spread to the city of Kobani on the Syrian-Turkish border. In this context, Turkey denied a ceasefire with the Kurdish People's Protection Units in Syria. Erdogan stated that Syrian Kurdish militants have not yet returned to the Euphrates east.
US Utilizes 'New Rocket Launcher' in Attacks Against 'ISIS' in Syria
The US military has begun using the HIMARS rocket launcher from Turkey to target ISIS positions in Syria. This marks a new phase in US-Turkey cooperation against ISIS while Turkey continues its operations against Kurdish rebels. The situation is significant as it highlights ongoing tensions in the region and the complexities of US involvement.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
On September 4, the US military used a new rocket launcher, HIMARS, to target ISIS positions in Syria from Turkey. This marks a new phase in US-Turkey cooperation against ISIS while Turkey continues its operations against Kurdish rebels.
- HIMARS is a highly mobile rocket system capable of precise targeting with a range of nearly 500 kilometers.
- The US has called for a focus on ISIS attacks while Turkey continues its military operations against Kurdish forces.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The US has been involved in countering ISIS in Syria for years, while Turkey has its own interests in combating Kurdish groups it views as terrorists. The dynamics between these players are crucial for understanding the conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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