February 16, 2016
Release # 20160216-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Feb. 15, coalition military forces
continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition
military forces conducted 10 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely
piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military
forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government
of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter 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 Abu Kamal, six strikes struck an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL
headquarters, three ISIL weapons storage facilities, and an ISIL barracks.
. Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed an ISIL building.
. Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
vehicle.
. Near Al Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three
ISIL buildings and damaged a separate ISIL building.
Iraq
. Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed seven ISIL rocket rails and an ISIL
weapons cache.
. Near Al Qaim, nine strikes struck an ISIL improvised explosive device (IED)
facility, an ISIL logistics facility, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL internet
cafés, two ISIL headquarters, and an ISIL media headquarters.
. Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL heavy machine
guns, and an ISIL bunker.
. Near Kirkuk, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
vehicle, an ISIL weapons cache, and three ISIL fighting positions.
. Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
fighting position and an ISIL bunker.
. Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
front end loader.
. Near Sinjar, two strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and
suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
. Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL
fighting position and an ISIL bunker.
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.