May 15: Military airstrikes continue against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq

May 15, 2017
Release # 20170515-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 14, Coalition military forces conducted 23 strikes consisting of 84 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 20 engagements against ISIS targets.
* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed an ISIS pump jack and an ISIS well head.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS fuel trucks, two ISIS well heads, and an ISIS pump jack.
* Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, two fighting positions and an artillery system.
* Near Tabqah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 64 engagements against ISIS targets.
* Near Haditha, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.
* Near Mosul, four strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 12 fighting positions, five vehicles, two mortar systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two heavy machine guns, two anti-air artillery systems, two VBIEDs, and a weapons storage facility; damaged ten ISIS supply routes, a fighting position, and a VBIED facility; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.
* Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an ISIS command and control node.

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 ground-based tactical artillery.

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.