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xchrom

(108,903 posts) Sat Sep 6, 2014, 06:48 AM Sep 2014

A Predator Drone Has Reportedly Been Spotted Circling Above ISIS's Capital City

http://www.businessinsider.com/aaron-stein-predator-drone-circling-above-isis-capital-city-2014-9

The United States appears to now be flying unarmed surveillance drones over the IS stronghold of Raqqa, Syria. The pictures thus far suggest that the drone being used is the MQ-1 Reaper.

The two photos show the distinct downward facing V-shaped tail used on Predator drones, and the aircraft does not appear to be carrying any missiles. As such, the available evidence indicates that the drone is being used for surveillance purposes, rather than in a hunter-killer type mission.

According to local activists, the drone has been circling over the city for three hours. If the reports are true, this would suggest that the air environment over Raqqa is permissive. Drones are visible on radar and easy to shoot down with air defense systems.

The evidence thus far suggests that the drone is acquiring imagery – and possibly signals intelligence (SIGINT) — of Islamic State positions in the group’s most important stronghold. There is little doubt that this mission is intended to give U.S. policymakers more information about IS positions in Raqqa. However, it does not necessarily signal the imminent use of force against IS positions in Syria.

Read more: https://bellingcat.com/news/mena/2014/09/05/predator-drone-reportedly-sighted-circling-raqqa-syria/#ixzz3CX0mOFeV

3 replies

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A Predator Drone Has Reportedly Been Spotted Circling Above ISIS's Capital City (Original Post) xchrom Sep 2014 OP

Raqqa go boom Bosonic Sep 2014 #1

Syrian war planes hit Islamic State-run bakery, training camp: monitor Bosonic Sep 2014 #2

My guess: the outrage over civilian deaths that occurred when Assad bombed the insurgents Chathamization Sep 2014 #3

Bosonic

(3,746 posts)

1. Raqqa go boom

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Sep 6, 2014, 07:46 AM

Sep 2014

#IS said the "3 air jet could be #USA airforce". No confirmation of the identity. #Raqqa #IS #Syria

https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/508216535136350209

Bosonic

(3,746 posts)

2. Syrian war planes hit Islamic State-run bakery, training camp: monitor

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Sep 6, 2014, 08:00 AM

Sep 2014

Syrian war planes hit Islamic State-run bakery, training camp: monitor

(Reuters) - Syrian war planes hit a bakery run by Islamic State in the city of Raqqa, killing at least 17 people, in air raids on Saturday that also hit a major training camp used by the group for a second day running, a group monitoring the war said.

The air strikes on Raqqa, Islamic State's stronghold some 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Damascus, also hit a building used as an Islamic court, and another of the group's offices, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Quoting activists on the ground, Rami Abdulrahman, founder of the Observatory, said the bakery was run by the militant group. He said those killed included at least eight civilians and an unknown number of Islamic State activists.

Islamic State, which has seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, drove the last Syrian government forces out of Raqqa province in late August when its fighters seized an air base, capturing and later executing scores of Syrian soldiers.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/06/us-syria-crisis-idUSKBN0H10AV20140906?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Chathamization

(1,638 posts)

3. My guess: the outrage over civilian deaths that occurred when Assad bombed the insurgents

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Sat Sep 6, 2014, 08:32 AM

Sep 2014

will be completely missing when civilian deaths occur from us bombing the insurgents.

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