President Barack Obama has authorized manned and unmanned aircrafts to fly over the embattled nation of Syria to gain intelligence about Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces within the country, according to The Associated Press. The move could be the first step in launching airstrikes against the militants. However, the Obama administration worries that such a maneuver may help Syrian President Bashar Assad, who ISIL and U.S.-aided rebel forces are attempting to ouster.
A delicate balance
U.S. officials have expressed their concern in aiding the Syrian president, saying that airstrikes would be used for the purpose of attacking ISIL forces only, not helping Assad.
"We're not interested in trying to help the Assad regime," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday, according to the AP. "There are a lot of cross pressures here."
Currently, no military action has been authorized by Obama. The flights over Syria are being used solely for gaining intelligence over the region. However, some claim this is the natural first step to calculated military airstrikes, saying additional data must be obtained first. Obama approved the surveillance flights recently, and the missions over Syria have already begun. Pentagon officials are already drafting options for the president. Some of those options include airstrikes, according to the AP.
Rising tensions
Recently, the Syrian government warned the White House that any military airstrikes against individuals in Syria would be considered a breach of the country's sovereignty and an act of aggression, according to The New York Times. Instead, the government – led by Assad – has agreed to collaborate, and has attempted to gain U.S. support in striking ISIL militants. The White House has stated that it will not work with Assad nor will U.S. forces inform the Syrian president in advance of any military operation.
Faced with a hostile Syrian airspace, military forces have multiple options, according to the Times. American fighter jets could fly close to the border and launch precision long-range weapons from protected airspace. The U.S. military could also jam Syrian air-defense systems, giving fighter planes a period of time to locate and attack ISIL forces within the country. Moreover, American forces could rely on stealth fighter planes that can evade radar or precision missiles launched from sea.
Fighting ISIL
Obama has refused to take military action in Syria thus far, according to the AP, but that may change as governmental officials suggest the only way to eliminate ISIL forces is to take action in the embattled country. American tensions against ISIL increased after the militants released a video of their men executing an American journalist. James Foley was murdered by the militants on video after being held hostage in Syria. Although U.S. military forces attempted to rescue American hostages held in Syria earlier this summer, the targets could not be found. There are still American hostages being held by ISIL forces, and further intelligence inside Syria could allow U.S. servicemembers to coordinate another rescue mission or allow Americans to attack ISIL leaders.