May 25, 2018
Release # 20180525-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners have increased offensive activity against Daesh targets in designated parts of Iraq and Syria throughout the month of May.
On May 1, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the resumption of major offensive operations in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. Since then, the SDF has continued to gain ground through offensive operations, coupled with precision Coalition strike support.
During the first 24 days of May, the Coalition has conducted 184 strikes with 231 engagements. This demonstrates a 147% increase over the 74 strikes conducted in March, and surpassed OIR’s strike tempo of 183 strikes recorded for the entire month of April 2018.
Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve and its partner forces continue to exert pressure on Daesh senior leaders and associates in order to degrade, disrupt and dismantle Daesh structures and remove terrorists throughout Iraq and Syria. Daesh morale is sinking on the frontlines as privileged Daesh leaders increasingly abandon their own fighters on the battlefield, taking resources with them as they flee.
Over the coming weeks, Operation Roundup will continue to build momentum against Daesh remnants remaining in the Iraq-Syria border region and the MERV. The Coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of Daesh here, increasing peace and stability in the region and protecting all our homelands from the Daesh threat.
Weekly Strike Summary
Between May 18 and May 24, Coalition military forces conducted 52 strikes consisting of 70 engagements in Iraq and Syria.
On May 24 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, six strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed three Daesh-held buildings and one Daesh weapons cache.
On May 24 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed three Daesh caves.
• Near Baghdad, one strike destroyed five Daesh tunnels.
On May 23 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 30 engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, 15 strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed four Daesh-held buildings, four Daesh fighting positions, one Daesh vehicle and two Daesh command and control centers.
• Near Al Shadaddi, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh anti-aircraft weapon, two Daesh fighting positions and two Daesh IED belts.
On May 23 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
• Near Rutbah, one strike destroyed one Daesh safe house.
On May 22 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of eight engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, five strikes destroyed one Daesh fighting position.
• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed one Daesh tunnel system.
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on May 22, 2018.
On May 21 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh command and control center and one Daesh IED factory.
• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed one Daesh supply cache and one Daesh tunnel system.
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on May 21, 2018.
On May 20 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh fighting position and one Daesh supply route.
On May 20 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.
• Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed two Daesh tunnels.
On May 19 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of nine engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, nine strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh command and control center.
There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on May 19, 2018.
On May 18 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh command and control centers.
On May 18 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Qayyarah, one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit
• Near Rawah, one strike destroyed one Daesh-held building.
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 Daesh vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of Daesh-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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