November 23: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

November 23, 2016
Release # 20161123-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Nov. 22, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an oil rig.
* Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed two vehicles, an oil tanker truck, an oil pump, and a VBIED; and damaged a road.
* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed a vehicle and an anti-air artillery system.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed three oil well heads, three vehicles, and two oil tanker trucks.

Iraq

* Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed six ISIL-held buildings, a mortar system, a vehicle, a weapons cache, a supply cache, and an artillery system; and damaged five supply routes, and a bridge.
* Near Rawah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a mortar system, and a weapons cache.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed inoperable coalition equipment.

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. The information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on 'Z' or Greenwich Mean Time.
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, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.