Islamic State Attacked By France, Hezbollah Not Far Behind
In retaliation for simultaneous bombings carried out by the Islamic State across the city of Paris, French war planes have reportedly bombed multiple ISIS facilities in the ISIS held Syrian city of Raqqa, which the Islamic State has claimed as its capital.
The bombing is in coordination with France’s Western ally, the United States, who have actively been leading a campaign of airstrikes along with a few other nations across Syria and Iraq since September of 2014.
On November 13, 2015, Paris was thrown into chaos when a group of suicide bombers representing the Islamic State staged a variety of attacks throughout the city with gunfire and bombings, killing at least 129 people, as provided in an updated report by The Atlantic.
In addition, these attacks followed the day after Islamic State attacked a Shiite fashion district in the city of Beirut, killing 40 people.
That report also states that the suburb that was attacked, Burj al-Barajneh, is connected with the militant Hezbollah group.
The Inquisitr reports that 11 people responsible for that attack have been arrested.
The Islamic State’s attacks on Paris have certainly dominated the news cycle, causing some citizens in Lebanon to question the value of Arab lives, which is detailed in the New York Times.
Over the last several months, the Obama administration has faced criticism from Republicans for not doing enough in the war against Islamic State, which the attacks on Paris have only inflammed.
In a interview with Chuck Todd, the host of NBC’s Meet The Press, Michael McCaul (R-TX) detailed the weaknesses in the administration’s policies and he is also quoted in an article by the Washington Times as to how he should take on the Islamic State.
Rep. Michael T. McCaul, Texas Republican and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called for the White House to stop its policy of trying to contain the Islamic State, also known as ISIL and ISIS, and move to defeat the terrorist group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wooGmSILq38
The escalation of attacks has gradually caused other bordering nations to either get involved in the fight against Islamic State or ramp up attacks, including Russia, who many claim are only there to provide support for Assad, despite the growing consensus by Western governments that he should be removed.
It’s been reported that Israel is also attacking Hezbollah on the border of Lebanon, who declare Hezbollah a terror group which has caused Russia to come to their defense, suggesting that they should also be given support, despite the fact that the Lebanese group is fighting in support of Assad according to the Jerusalem Post.
A poll was also taken by the Lebanese news service The Daily Star which puts the majority of the population in support for strikes against Islamic State.
During the same week as both attacks, Kurdish fighters overpowered the Islamic State in the city of Sinjar with the help of U.S. airstrikes, which the extremist group had been holding since last year after they proclaimed a caliph.
Despite last week’s attacks, the Obama administration is determined to stay the course with its current campaign of airstrikes, and is slow to send in soldiers. Many believed the administration could be on a slippery slope when Obama stated that he would send special forces in for precision ground operations, and as consultants to other forces currently there.
Special U.S. forces have already been active in striking compounds and engaging in direct combat with Islamic State attackers, where they’ve even helped prevent the mass execution of captured fighters.
[Featured Image by John Moore / Getty Images]
