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4 Obama authorizes use of surveillance drones over Syria
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5 hours ago - President Obama has authorized the use of drones for surveillance in Syria ... But he said any military action inside Syria should be coordinated ...
Fox News Channel
Pentagon
Obama authorizes use of surveillance drones over Syria
President Obama has authorized the use of drones for
surveillance in Syria even as the Assad regime demanded that the U.S.
seek permission before launching any airstrikes on its territory against
Islamic State targets.
A senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that Obama this weekend authorized the use of drone surveillance over Syria for the first time.
The action is considered the first “intrusive” surveillance by the U.S. in Syria since the country’s civil war began. This differs from protective surveillance, such as the U.S. used in the failed mission to rescue American hostages held in Syria.
The authorization was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which reported that officials said surveillance missions could begin over eastern Syria soon in order to gather intelligence on the militant group the Islamic State.
"The Pentagon is preparing to conduct reconnaissance flights over Syria," a senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal. "There is no decision yet to do strikes, but in order to help make that decision, you want to get as much situational awareness as possible."
The news comes amid a back-and-forth between Syria’s government and the Obama administration over the possibility of the U.S. launching airstrikes in the country.
The Assad regime on Monday demanded the Obama administration seek permission before launching any airstrikes on its territory against Islamic State targets, while the State Department indicated it had no intention of seeking "the approval of the Syrian regime."
The question of whether the White House should authorize airstrikes has grown in urgency in recent days -- particularly after Islamic State militants last week beheaded an American journalist captured in Syria.
Other clashes were also erupting in the region, including warnings that another northern Iraq town faces the risk of a "massacre" at the hands of the Islamic State and apparent airstrikes by Middle Eastern militaries on Islamist militias in Libya.
U.S. military officials have given mixed messages on how seriously airstrikes in Syria are being considered, saying most recently they would only be used to counter a threat to the U.S.
But Syria seemed intent on capitalizing on the growing clamor among some U.S. officials to expand the current American air campaign -- provided the Syrian government is a partner.
Speaking in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem appeared acutely aware of how much has changed since last August, when the U.S. was threatening to carry out punitive airstrikes against Bashar Assad's government in the wake of the chemical attack. Since then, global disapproval has shifted away from Assad and toward the Islamic extremists who are fighting him and spreading destruction across Syria and Iraq.
Al-Moallem told reporters his government is ready "to cooperate and coordinate" with any side, including the U.S., or join any regional or international alliance against the Islamic State group. But he said any military action inside Syria should be coordinated with the government, "which represents Syrian sovereignty."
"Any strike which is not coordinated with the government will be considered as aggression," he said.
He said Damascus repeatedly has warned of the threat of terrorism and the need to cut off resources and funding, but "no one listened to us." Syria's government has long described the rebels fighting to topple Assad as "terrorists" in a foreign conspiracy.
The Obama administration has bristled at the thought of teaming up with the Assad government, while acknowledging they might have enemies in common.
"Just because the Syrian regime may be taking on ISIL or ...speaking publicly about that, and certainly the United States is, it certainly doesn't mean we're on the same side of the coin here," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday.
Asked specifically whether the U.S. would have permission to act in Syria, she said: "I think when American lives are at stake, when we're talking about defending our own interests, we're not looking for the approval of the Syrian regime."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
end quote from:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/25/obama-authorizes-use-surveillance-drones-over-syria/
A senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that Obama this weekend authorized the use of drone surveillance over Syria for the first time.
The action is considered the first “intrusive” surveillance by the U.S. in Syria since the country’s civil war began. This differs from protective surveillance, such as the U.S. used in the failed mission to rescue American hostages held in Syria.
The authorization was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which reported that officials said surveillance missions could begin over eastern Syria soon in order to gather intelligence on the militant group the Islamic State.
"The Pentagon is preparing to conduct reconnaissance flights over Syria," a senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal. "There is no decision yet to do strikes, but in order to help make that decision, you want to get as much situational awareness as possible."
The news comes amid a back-and-forth between Syria’s government and the Obama administration over the possibility of the U.S. launching airstrikes in the country.
The Assad regime on Monday demanded the Obama administration seek permission before launching any airstrikes on its territory against Islamic State targets, while the State Department indicated it had no intention of seeking "the approval of the Syrian regime."
The question of whether the White House should authorize airstrikes has grown in urgency in recent days -- particularly after Islamic State militants last week beheaded an American journalist captured in Syria.
Other clashes were also erupting in the region, including warnings that another northern Iraq town faces the risk of a "massacre" at the hands of the Islamic State and apparent airstrikes by Middle Eastern militaries on Islamist militias in Libya.
U.S. military officials have given mixed messages on how seriously airstrikes in Syria are being considered, saying most recently they would only be used to counter a threat to the U.S.
But Syria seemed intent on capitalizing on the growing clamor among some U.S. officials to expand the current American air campaign -- provided the Syrian government is a partner.
Speaking in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem appeared acutely aware of how much has changed since last August, when the U.S. was threatening to carry out punitive airstrikes against Bashar Assad's government in the wake of the chemical attack. Since then, global disapproval has shifted away from Assad and toward the Islamic extremists who are fighting him and spreading destruction across Syria and Iraq.
Al-Moallem told reporters his government is ready "to cooperate and coordinate" with any side, including the U.S., or join any regional or international alliance against the Islamic State group. But he said any military action inside Syria should be coordinated with the government, "which represents Syrian sovereignty."
"Any strike which is not coordinated with the government will be considered as aggression," he said.
He said Damascus repeatedly has warned of the threat of terrorism and the need to cut off resources and funding, but "no one listened to us." Syria's government has long described the rebels fighting to topple Assad as "terrorists" in a foreign conspiracy.
The Obama administration has bristled at the thought of teaming up with the Assad government, while acknowledging they might have enemies in common.
"Just because the Syrian regime may be taking on ISIL or ...speaking publicly about that, and certainly the United States is, it certainly doesn't mean we're on the same side of the coin here," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday.
Asked specifically whether the U.S. would have permission to act in Syria, she said: "I think when American lives are at stake, when we're talking about defending our own interests, we're not looking for the approval of the Syrian regime."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
end quote from:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/25/obama-authorizes-use-surveillance-drones-over-syria/
Obama authorizes use of surveillance drones over Syria
www.foxnews.com/.../obama-authorizes-use-surveilla...
5 hours ago - President Obama has authorized the use of drones for surveillance in Syria ... But he said any military action inside Syria should be coordinated ...
Fox News Channel
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