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Press Release | March 26, 2017

March 26: Military airstrikes continue against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq

CJTFOIR

March 26, 2017
Release # 20170326-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Mar. 25, Coalition military forces conducted 30 strikes consisting of 93 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 38 engagements against ISIS targets.

*       Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed 35 oil barrels, six oil refinement stills, and a well head.
*       Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system; and damaged a supply route.
*       Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed two pump jacks and an oil rig; and damaged a pump jack.
*       Near Tabqah, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, an improvised weapons facility, and a weapons factory; and damaged a supply route.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 55 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

*       Near Al Qaim, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.
*       Near Bayji, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.
*       Near Kirkuk, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS-held building.
*       Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, four mortar positions, two tactical vehicles, a supply cache, and a sniper weapon system; damaged 11 supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.
*       Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed an ISIS-held building and an ISIS headquarters.
*       Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed an ISIS-held building.

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria.  The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world.

This Coalition strike release contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing, or remotely piloted aircraft, rocket propelled artillery and some ground based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets.  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.

A strike, as defined in the Coalition release, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect in that location.  For example, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined.

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.