--- title: "Now Iraq Has Started Bombing Syria Too (Updated)" description: "Iraqi aircraft have crossed into Syria to strike targets for the very first time." date: "2018-04-19" modified: "2018-04-19" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/20237/now-iraq-has-started-bombing-targets-in-syria-too" categories: - "Air" - "Air Force Munitions" - "Air-To-Ground" - "Around The Globe" - "Iraq" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" - "Syria" tags: - "air strikes" - "assad" - "Border" - "Coalition" - "deconfliction" - "Iraq" - "Iraqi Air Force" - "ISIS" - "Islamic State" - "Prime Minister" - "Syria" --- # Now Iraq Has Started Bombing Syria Too (Updated) ![]() *www.twz.com* The U.S., France, the UK, Israel, Turkey, and Russia, in addition to countries that are participating in the U.S.-led air campaign against ISIS in eastern Syria, are all bombing the war-torn country. Now, after a week of aerial chaos over Syria that started with a [large coordinated cruise missile]() strike on chemical weapons-related targets, followed by repeated attacks by the Isreali Air Force, and news that Iran is [now deploying air defense]() assets to the country, as well as the possibility that ISIS may [be on the rise]() again there, Iraq has waded into the air combat fray. The office of Iraq's prime minister issued the following curt statement to mark the country's opening up of air operations in Syria: > "On the orders of the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Dr. Haider Abadi, our heroic Air Force on Thursday carried out deadly airstrikes against the sites of the terrorist ISIL gangs in Syria on the Iraqi border." https://twitter.com/\_/status/986927710906744867 There is very limited information at this time on exactly what targets were hit and with what aircraft. Iraq has a number of fixed-wing combat aircraft including F-16IQs, T-50s, Su-25s, and armed Cessna Caravans, as well an array of helicopter gunships that could have prosecuted targets in Syria. But what's most pressing at this time is learning how the strikes were deconflicted with [U.S.-led coalition forces](), or if they were at all. We will update this post as more information comes available. ***Update: 5:14am PST—*** The [New York Times reports]() that the strikes were coordinated with the Assad government and were carried out using F-16s. If indeed the Iraqi government, which has close ties to Iran—and Iran backs Assad directly—did not work with the U.S. on these sorties it could drastically complicate the airspace over eastern Syria and it could lead to a major fracture in U.S.-Iraq military and diplomatic relations. ***Update: 5:30am PST—*** Last week prime minister al-Abadi said Iraq would defend itself from militant threats across their own borders. The Iraqi government declared victory over ISIS in December of 2017. We have heard that five targets were struck during the raid. ***Update: 10:00am PST—*** The Iraqi Air Force has released video and images of the F-16IQs launching for their strikes in Syria. They show the jets each carrying four GBU-12 500lb laser-guided bombs, a Sniper targeting pod, underwing fuel tanks, and a pair of AIM-9M Sidewinders. Another photo shows the jets in flight with some of their bombs missing. https://twitter.com/\_/status/986934114816348160 ![message-editor%2F1524158177147-jajd91d31.jpg]() **Iraqi Air Force** ![message-editor%2F1524158205098-dsad15.jpg]() **Iraqi Air Force** ![message-editor%2F1524158353367-jjadj9131.jpg]() **Iraqi Air Force** There is also this to ponder: https://twitter.com/\_/status/986953292784787456 And it looks like the targets were near the town of al Shaddi: https://twitter.com/\_/status/986963184669155330 It seems the U.S. led coalition had at least something to do with the strikes, or at least it has tacitly agreed with them. Intelligence sharing is possible, but it would be quite focused/limited considering the Assad regime and Russia could also end up obtaining it: https://twitter.com/\_/status/987020525938585600 ***Update: 12:40pm PST—*** The Iraqi Air Force has released this video supposedly showing one of its F-16s obliterating a building being used by ISIS: https://twitter.com/\_/status/987019353219633154 *Editor's note/correction: Some reports state that the Iraqi Air Force made a similar raid in February of 2017. We have received conflicting information about the accuracy of these reports. But we still removed the sentence stating that this is the first time Iraq has bombed Syria that we know of to err on the safe side of accuracy.* *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()