The U.S. Shouldering Brunt of ISIS Air Campaign

The military coalition attacking the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been heralded by President Obama as “almost unprecedented,” especially for the participation of Arab air forces. Indeed, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Bahrain have helped carry out strikes inside Syria.

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But as the air operation enters its fourth month, most of the missions — including the vast majority of bombing runs — are still being conducted by US forces, with the majority of the others performed by Western allies, according to a Globe review of official statistics and interviews with officials from partner countries.

This has raised new questions about whether key Arab allies have completely bought into the US strategy, which could fail without strong — and visible — local support on the ground and in the air.

The issue is likely to play prominently when Congress reconvenes this week to debate Obama’s request for $5.6 billion in war funding and a formal vote to authorize the use of force.

“This mission made sense if we are supporting regional actors willing to police extremism in their own region,” said Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and member of the Foreign Relations Committee who recently visited the coalition’s joint air operations in Qatar.

“It makes no sense if the regional actors are not willing to stand up to it and we are being called on to do what regional actors should do.”

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