“The cost of U.S. airstrikes on the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq has exceeded $1 billion, according to multiple media reports citing a Defense Department representative. The U.S.-led coalition targeting the extremist group formerly known as either ISIS or ISIL has carried out 1,371 airstrikes in the two Middle Eastern countries since its operations began last summer, the Pentagon rep confirmed,” the International Business Times reports.  

“The airstrikes in Syria are targeting key ISIS-held locations to cripple the group’s strongholds in both Syria and Iraq and degrade their ability to command, control, resupply and train, a U.S. military official told CNN . U.S. President Barack Obama authorized airstrikes in Iraq in August, which had reportedly killed three top ISIS leaders in the last month, according to CBS News .”