October 18, 2014
RELEASE # 20141021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 18, 2014
— U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria
Friday and today using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct 15
airstrikes. Separately, U.S. military forces used attack, fighter and
bomber aircraft to conduct ten airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in
Iraq.
Two airstrikes occurred near Kobani and suppressed two ISIL
fighting positions. One airstrike took place southwest of Ain Aissa and
damaged to an ISIL military camp. One airstrike took place southeast
of Dayr Az Zawr and damaged an ISIL modular oil refinery. Seven
airstrikes took place east of Dhiban and successfully struck an ISIL
crude oil collection point consisting of crude oil collection equipment
and a modular oil refinery. Three airstrikes took place northeast of
Khusham and successfully struck an ISIL crude oil collection point. One
airstrike took place east of Sharra and successfully struck an ISIL
modular oil refinery. These airstrikes were designed to interdict ISIL
financing by degrading and destroying their oil producing, collecting,
storage and transportation infrastructure. To conduct these strikes,
the U.S. employed fighter and bomber aircraft deployed to the U.S.
Central Command area of operations. All aircraft departed the strike
areas safely.
In Iraq, five airstrikes occurred south and west of
Bayji and struck two ISIL units, destroyed one ISIL armed vehicle, an
ISIL heavy weapon, an ISIL machine gun position, an ISIL building and
three ISIL guard shacks and damaged one ISIL guard shack. Five
airstrikes occurred west of the Mosul Dam and damaged an ISIL building
and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL HMMWV and struck three
small ISIL ground units. To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed
attack, fighter and bomber aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command
area of operations. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
The
U.S. strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the
operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose
to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The
destruction and degradation of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further
limits the terrorist group's ability to lead, control, project power and
conduct operations. All airstrike assessments are based on initial
reports.