Pentagon says strikes against ISIS part of ‘persistent’ campaign

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says airstrikes in Syria and Iraq are the beginning of a “credible and sustainable, persistent” campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy the Islamic State militant group.

Lt. Gen. William Mayville, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells reporters at the Pentagon that future strikes can be expected.

Also on Tuesday, a U.S. official says America and its Arab allies launched more than 200 airstrikes against roughly a dozen militant targets in Syria during the assault, but the total number of strikes and targets had not been released.

The official says a majority of the 47 Tomahawk missiles fired off U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea targeted eight Khorasan sites.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to provide mission details on the record by name.

ASSOCIATED PRESS