May 06, 2016
Release # 20160506-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 5, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using ground-attack and attack aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using ground-attack, fighter, bomber, 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 Al Shadaddi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Manbij, one strike stuck an ISIL tactical vehicle.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL command and control node, five ISIL rocket rails, and an ISIL bunker.
* Near Albu Hayat, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).
* Near Bashir, one strike produced inconclusive results.
* Near Bayji, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Fallujah, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL supply cache, an ISIL tunnel entrance, two ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL-used bridge, and two ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, two ISIL vehicles, three ISIL tactical vehicles, and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Makhmur, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL rocket rails and an ISIL assembly area.
* Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, two ISIL VBIEDs, and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL improvised weapons facility and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL rocket rail.
* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

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.