October 17, 2014
Release #20141020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 17, 2014 -
U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria
Thursday and today using fighter aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes.
Separately, partner nation military forces used fighter aircraft to
conduct two airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
Six airstrikes took
place near Kobani where initial reports indicate they successfully
struck three ISIL buildings, destroyed two ISIL fighting positions,
suppressed three ISIL fighting positions and destroyed two ISIL
vehicles. One airstrike near Shadadi successfully struck ISIL oil
collection equipment consisting of several "POL tanks" (petroleum, oil
and lubricants) and a pump station, which represents part of the
terrorist group's oil producing, processing and transportation
infrastructure. This strike was intended to destroy a portion of ISIL's
ability to operate oil tanker trucks at oil collection points. To
conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed fighter aircraft deployed to
the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
In Iraq, partner
nation aircraft conducted one airstrike west of Bayji where initial
reports indicate they destroyed both an ISIL artillery piece and an ISIL
ammunition storage area. Another partner nation airstrike northeast of
Bayji struck a small ISIL unit and damaged an ISIL vehicle. 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.