US and partner nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, conducted 13 additional air strikes against ISIS terrorists in Syria on Wednesday, continuing the air campaign that began Monday night. Fighter jets and remotely piloted aircraft struck 12 “small-scale” oil refineries controlled by the terrorist organization as well as an ISIS vehicle, which was destroyed. US Central Command officials said they are still assessing the results of the attacks, though there are “initial indications that the strikes [against the refineries] were successful,” according to a Sept. 24 Defense Department release. The refineries, located in remote areas of eastern Syria near Mayadin, Hasakah, and Abu Kamal, were used to fuel ISIS operations and fund terrorist attacks in Iraq and Syria, states the release. “Producing 300 to 500 barrels of refined petroleum per day, [ISIS] is estimated to generate as much as $2 million per day from these refineries. The destruction and degradation of these targets further limits [ISIS’] ability to lead, control, project power, and conduct operations,” states the release. US Air Force fighters deployed to the US Central Command area of responsibility carried out the attacks. However, it is not clear if F-22s were part of this second round of air strikes. The fifth generation Raptor made its combat debut on Monday.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.