Have the results achieved thus far in Operation Inherent Resolve been worth the cost?

2015-08-07T12:36:24-04:00

In the year since American bombs first dropped onto Islamic State targets, the campaign has had a limited impact on the overall numbers of the terrorists in the fight, but the airmen who have flown the missions say they have aided the people who are defending themselves against the group.

Since Aug. 8, 2014, the U.S. has dropped more than 5,600 bombs in the campaign. The operation has cost a total of $3.21 billion, or about $9.4 million per day, as of late July.

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http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/08/07/operation-inherent-resolve-one-year-after-first-bombs-fell/31222041/

Operation Inherent Resolve: One year after the first bombs fell

In the year since American bombs first dropped onto Islamic State targets, the campaign has had a limited impact on the overall numbers of the terrorist groups, but the airmen who have flown the missions say they have made a large impact on the peopl

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 7 at 2015 12:38 PM

2015-08-07T12:38:32-04:00

I think it's hard to gauge it's overall success. The ISIS doesn't have the same sort of targets a conventional military would have.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 9 at 2015 5:03 AM

2015-08-09T05:03:52-04:00

Inherent Resolve Air Attacks on ISIL in Middle East Continue

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria:

Bomber, attack, fighter, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine airstrikes in Syria:
— Near Hasakah, six airstrikes struck one large and one small ISIL tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL bunkers, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL building, an ISIL motorcycle and an ISIL weapons cache.
— Near Aleppo, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
— Near Raqqah, an airstrike struck an ISIL front end loader.
— Near Dayr Az Zawr, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL crane.

Airstrikes in Iraq:

Attack, fighter, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 10 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with the Iraqi government:
— Near Baghdadi, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
— Near Beiji, an airstrike struck an ISIL large tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL weapons cache.
— Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
— Near Habbaniyah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb.
— Near Haditha, three airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL building and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
— Near Mosul, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
— Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL roadside bomb.
— Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL large tactical unit and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL vehicle.

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group’s ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/08/08/inherent-resolve-air-attacks-on-isil-in-middle-east-continue/

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 8:26 AM

2015-10-30T08:26:37-04:00

we are dumping buckets of water on a forest fire that the size of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. It will help ... but actually no where near the help needed. That is why some is cheering for Russian and Iran (not that i agree with that).

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 30 at 2015 9:26 AM

2015-10-30T09:26:30-04:00

Well I think it has been marginal at best GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. Certainly some high value targets have been taken out, some prisoners dramatically recovered , some intel has been able to be extracted from captured stuff and people and in some cases areas that ISIS expanded to have been retaken - mostly by the peshmerga and other Kurdish assets despite the intents of Turkey to interfere. The Obama administration wasted time and money arming and training the Syrian opposition to topple Assad - this backfired in many ways including most recently their betrayal by us and their targeting by Russians.
When the influx of recruits into ISIS becomes negative then strategic victory will be something which is potentially possible. Drying up the flow of funding into ISIS and buyers for black market goods from what ISIS confiscates, steals, and uses blackmail to acquire will dry up their thug appeal.

Response by SGT William Howell made Oct 30 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-10-30T10:12:16-04:00

Is that what they are calling it? "Operation Inherent Resolve"? I would have come up with something more fitting like "Operation Tragic Irony" Or "Operation This is What Happens When You Leave Without a Plan".

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Oct 30 at 2015 10:28 AM

2015-10-30T10:28:06-04:00

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad They are recruiting by fear. The last thing they would admit is that a bombing raid was successful. Additionally, SGT Ben Keen nailed it in that ISIL is a group within a nation rather than a nation state. With no traditional bases, there is no traditional means of measuring success.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 1:27 PM

2018-03-14T13:27:18-04:00

I think a couple of well place MOABs would get a very clear point across and we could wash our hands and call it a day.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 14 at 2018 5:13 PM

2018-03-14T17:13:13-04:00

Worth the cost Gunny? Well we haven't failed over 3000 citizens like we did in 9/11,right. Seems to me that anything keeping them too busy trying to live over there is a hell of a lot better, than giving them the time to train and come over here.