May 15, 2016
Release # 20160515-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST
ASIA — On May 14, 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 nine strikes coordinated with and in support of the
Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and bomber and fighter
aircraft against ISIL targets.
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:
Syria
* Near Al Shadaddi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
*
Near Manbij, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed an ISIL mortar system, six ISIL artillery pieces, and an ISIL
vehicle.
* Near Mar'a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
Iraq
*
Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL assembly area, and three
ISIL vehicles.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL
vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) storage facility and
destroyed two ISIL boats.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL
tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL supply
cache, two ISIL rockets, an ISIL vehicle, and two ISIL heavy machine
guns.
* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
*
Near Waleed, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an
ISIL vehicle, an ISIL mortar system, and three ISIL weapons storage
facilities.
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.