February 18, 2016
Release # 20160218-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Feb. 17, coalition military forces
continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition
military forces conducted seven strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely
piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military
forces conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government
of Iraq using fighter, ground-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against
ISIL targets.
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last
press release:
Syria
* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed an ISIL building.
* Near Al Hawl, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL mortar position, three ISIL buildings, and
an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Iraq
* Near Albu Hayat, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed nine ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an inoperable piece of partner nation
equipment, at the request of the Iraqi government, in order to prevent its
capture by ISIL forces.
* Near Makhmur, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
assembly area.
* Near Mosul, one strike produced inconclusive results.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL VBIED.
* Near Ramadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL recoilless rifle.
* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL
fighting positions and an ISIL light machine gun.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and an
ISIL vehicle and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base
safely.
A strike, as defined in the CJTF releases, means one or more kinetic events
that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single,
sometimes cumulative effect for that location. So having a single aircraft
deliver a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is
multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and
vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative
effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use.
Accordingly, 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 strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation
to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria,
and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's
ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations which have
conducted strikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France,
Jordan, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition
nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain,
Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United
Kingdom, and the United States.