September 20: Military airstrikes continue against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq

September 20, 2017
Release # 20170920-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Sept. 19, Coalition military forces conducted 44 strikes consisting of 50 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 30 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets.
•Near Raqqah, 30 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed 28 fighting positions, three vehicles, two ISIS communications infrastructure items and an ISIS headquarters.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes consisting of 18 engagements against ISIS targets.
•Near Al Qaim, two strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters and a weapons storage area.
•Near Huwijah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed three tunnels, two ISIS headquarters, two command and control nodes, a vehicle, a tractor, and a VBIED facility; and damaged two supply routes.
•Near Rawah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two mortar systems, two weapons caches, an IED, a staging area, and a vehicle.

Additionally, 51 strikes consisting of 53 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 17-18 that closed within the last 24 hours.
•On Sept. 17, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed seven fighting positions.
•On Sept. 18, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and damaged three supply routes.
•On Sept. 18, near Raqqah, Syria, 42 strikes engaged 23 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 23 fighting positions, eight vehicles, three VBIEDs, two ISIS UAS systems, and a command and control node; and suppressed four fighting positions.
•On Sept. 18, near Huwayjah, Iraq, two strikes illuminated tactical areas.

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.

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