October 18: Military airstrikes continue against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq

October 18, 2017
Release # 20171018-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Oct. 17, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of eight engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two VBEID factories and an ISIS headquarters.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets.
• Near Al Qaim, two strikes destroyed three ISIS VBIED factories, an ISIS-held building and a munition production and storage facility.
• Near Bayji, two strikes destroyed an ISIS VBIED and an ISIS tunnel.
• Near Rawah, one strike engaged one ISIS tactical unit.

Additionally, three strikes consisting of three engagements were conducted in Syria on Oct. 16 that closed within the last 24 hours.
• Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.

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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