September 30: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

September 30, 2016
Release # 20160930-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Sept. 29, coalition military forces conducted 24 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, 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, one strike disabled a bridge along an ISIL supply route.
* Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes destroyed five ISIL oil pump jacks, three oil tanker trucks, and an oil well head.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes damaged four ISIL supply routes and disabled a bridge along an ISIL supply route.
* Near Manbij, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two VBIED facilities, a VBIED, a logistics node, and a fighting position.
* Near Mar'a, five strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three VBIEDs, three fighting positions, and a weapons cache.
* Near Washiyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL VBIED factory.

Iraq
* Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun cache.
* Near Bashir, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and two staging areas and destroyed an excavator.
* Near Mosul, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed six ISIL-held buildings, two compounds, and a vehicle; damaged a tunnel; and suppressed a mortar system.
* Near Ramadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed two fighting positions, two buildings, and an artillery system; damaged a trench system; and suppressed a tactical unit.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

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.