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Press Release | July 9, 2016

July 9: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

July 09, 2016
Release # 20160709-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On July 8, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using bomber, ground-attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria
* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed three ISIL wellheads.
* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck two ISIL-used bridges.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Manbij, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge.
* Near Mar'a, one strike struck an ISIL operations center.

Iraq
* Near Bashir, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Bayji, one strike destroyed an ISIL front-end loader.
* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL weapons cache, and two ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL front-end loader.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL rocket propelled grenade system, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, six ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL fighting position and damaged a separate ISIL fighting position.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

A strike, as defined in the CJTF releases, means one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect for that location. So having a single aircraft deliver a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use. Accordingly, CJTF-OIR does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

Ground-based artillery fired in counter-fire or in fire support to maneuver roles are not classified as a strike as defined by CJTF-OIR.

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.

The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.