April 27, 2016
Release # 20160427-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST
ASIA — On April 26, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL
terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, Coalition military forces
conducted 23 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government
of Iraq using bomber, ground-attack, fighter, and remotely piloted
aircraft against ISIL targets.
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:
Iraq
*
Near Al Baghdadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed
two ISIL tunnel systems, an ISIL tunnel entrance, an ISIL heavy machine
gun, an ISIL recoilless rifle, and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Bayji, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.
*
Near Fallujah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed
two ISIL mortar systems and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL machine gun and an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.
* Near Kirkuk, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL mortar system.
*
Near Mosul, five strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed two ISIL rocket rails, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL fighting
position and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Qayyarah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL supply cache.
*
Near Tal Afar, three strikes destroyed two ISIL tunnel systems and an
ISIL front end loader and denied ISIL access to terrain.
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.
Ground-based
artillery fired in counter-fire or in fire support to maneuver roles
are not classified as a strike as defined by CJTF-OIR.
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, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the
United States. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria
include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.