This Is What American Airstrikes on ISIS Look Like

Even before the US entered the latest iteration of the War on Terror against the Islamic State, the brooding civil war in Iraq was already a social media war. Whether it was ISIS militants posting beheading images or kittens strewn across firearms, Twitter and YouTube have been considered assets that reach beyond the Iraqi and Syrian battlefields.

In fact, almost as soon as the US started firing Tomahawk missiles at ISIS, American Central Command (CENTCOM) was posting YouTube videos of onboard the battleships lobbing those missiles on terrorists in Iraq. There was also the laughable State Department social media account, "Think Again Turn Away," showcasing the barbarity of ISIS by trolling Terrorist Twitter and posting alame video.

These practises haven't slowed down, either, especially as American bombings escalate. Late Thursday, CENTCOM posted five brand new videos in a row with the same classic perspective: night vision black and white screens with targeting systems locking onto the enemy, before a precision missile is fired and a massive explosion ensues.

According to a CENTCOM release, the airstrikes targeted a mixture of ISIS armoured vehicles, barracks, storage yards, bunkers, and tactical units, all over Iraq and Syria—including around the contested city of Kobani, where YPG Kurdish forces are facing off with ISIS in fierce fighting.

"The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations," said the release.

The apparent transparency from the Department of Defense showcasing its ongoing military operations has trickled down to other Western militaries involved with the airstrikes. While reportedly restricting journalists' access to troops deploying to Iraq, Canada has posted similar videos and explanations of its own CF-18 fighters smart-bombing ISIS targets.

In the age of social media, Western armies are increasingly manicuring their media exploits with their own YouTube channels to post "UNCLASSIFIED" bombing videos to show the success of their expensive campaigns. Compare this to the last two forays into Iraq, when American forces leaned heavily on media companies like CNN to showcase their military operations. But now, the US government has essentially its own slick syndicated online channel to completely control its message.

The appetite within allied armies engaging with ISIS to escalate the war in Iraq, beyond just dropping bombs or training Kurdish forces, is low. Politically, showing that the fighter planes you've dispatched to Iraqi airspace are effectively incinerating terrorists affirms the argument that the army can quell the threat of ISIS in the region with current firepower.

Not to mention, if you're a military looking to score public opinion points for your operations, posting YouTube videos is clearly in style. Just look to one recent conflict for examples.

The Israeli Defense Forces infamously made use of YouTube propaganda videos all summer as its war with Hamas raged on in Gaza. Everything from air strikes to first-person shooter videos of ground operations helped the IDF justify its war with the militant group. Those kinds of PR moves are a calculated tactics on the part of the IDF to improve its public image.

For its part, Hamas used the same sorts of video tactics, albeit on a much lower scale given its monetary limitations.

In the end, American bombing videos in Iraq contradict the ongoing shadowy CIA drone strike campaigns happening in nearby Pakistan or Yemen. Because in Iraq, judging by the wealth of new YouTube videos (courtesy of DoD), the US is proud to show you its work. Everywhere else it'll barely cop to it.