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Details of the mission against militants in Syria

By WTOP Staff

LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and five Arab countries launched airstrikes this week on Islamic State group targets and an al-Qaida group in Syria. Some facts about the military action:

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THE ASSAULT

Who: U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates launched strikes, Qatar in supporting role.

How many airstrikes: More than 200 airstrikes against roughly two dozen targets. The strikes came in three waves, beginning around 8:30 p.m. EDT Monday and finishing well after midnight.

U.S. strikes: Air Force B-1 bombers, F-15E attack planes, F-16 fighters and F-22 fighters; Navy F/A-18 fighters and two types of drone aircraft launched more than 150 airstrikes. The USS Arleigh Burke, a destroyer, and the USS Philippine Sea, a guided missile cruiser, operating from international waters in the Red Sea and north Persian Gulf, fired 47 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

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TARGETED GROUPS

Islamic State group: Originally al-Qaida in Iraq, it is known by various names: the Islamic State in Syria, or ISIS; the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant, or ISIL; and the Islamic State. Its goal is to create a caliphate, or Islamic empire, in the Middle East. It is led by Iraqi militant Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and initially sought to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad, but other groups, including al-Qaida central command, turned against it because of its brutality. It is headquartered in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and controls a large swath of territory across Syria and northern and western Iraq.

Khorasan Group: A mix of hardened jihadis from Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Europe that officials say poses a more direct and imminent threat to the United States. Its members did not go to Syria principally to fight Assad but were sent by al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to recruit Europeans and Americans who have better ability to penetrate airline and immigration security. U.S. officials say Khorasan militants are working with bomb-makers from al-Qaida’s Yemen affiliate.

Nusra Front: Al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, which along with the Islamic Front has been the toughest foes of the Islamic State militants. It has also been one of the most effective forces against Assad’s troops, using suicide bombers to back its fighters. Once a mix of Syrian extremists and foreign jihadis, it saw many of its non-Syrian fighters defect to the Islamic State group over the past two years.

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THE TARGETS

The U.S. and Arab allies struck Islamic State fighters, training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles in the vicinity of Raqqa, Dayr az Zawr, Al-Hasakah and Abu Kamal.

The U.S. alone also conducted dozens of strikes against the al-Qaida-affiliated Khorasan Group west of Aleppo, including training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communications building and command and control facilities.

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AIRSTRIKES IN IRAQ

The U.S. launched four airstrikes against Islamic State militants, hitting Humvees, an armored vehicle and a fighting position near Kirkuk. That brought the total number of airstrikes in Iraq to 194 since Aug. 8.

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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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