August 15: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

Release No: 16-011 Aug. 15, 2016 PRINT | E-MAIL

Southwest Asia — August 15, 2016
Release # 20160815-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Aug. 14, coalition military forces continued to attack ISILterrorists in Syriaand 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 seven strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using 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 Albu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIL oil wellhead and an ISIL-used oil equipment.
* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes struck an ISIL staging area and an ISIL weapons storage facility.
* Near Mar’a, two strikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and damaged four separate ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Tal Abyad, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL vehicles.

Iraq

* Near Mosul, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL improvised explosive device assembly area and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, six ISIL assembly areas, two ISIL command and control nodes, and one ISIL vehicle borne IED and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL rocket rail, four ISIL rocket systems,three ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL command and control node, and an ISIL heavy machine gun and disabled an ISIL VBIED and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL headquarters.

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, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

CJTF-OIR