October 6: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

October 6, 2016
Release # 20161006-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Oct. 5, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria
* Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes destroyed nine ISIL oil tanker trucks, seven oil truck trailers, four oil pump jacks, an oil storage tank, and a front-end loader.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a front-end loader.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed an ISIL oil well head and damaged two supply routes.
* Near Manbij, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units, destroyed three fighting positions and two heavy machine guns, and suppressed a mortar position.
* Near Mar'a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq
* Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.
* Near Baghdad, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Haditha, one strike engaged an ISIL staging area.
* Near Hit, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed two ISIL-held buildings, a vehicle, and a weapons cache; and damaged a second ISIL-held building.
* Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, a weapons cache, two supply caches, a command and control node, a mortar system, and an anti-air artillery system.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system and a fighting position.
* Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two vehicles, two bunkers, and a tunnel entrance.
* Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL-held buildings and a vehicle.

Additionally, due to a delayed strike assessment two strikes near Dayz Ar Zawr conducted on Oct. 4 were not reported on the Oct. 5 strike release. The correct assessment reads:

Syria
* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed three ISIL oil well heads and an oil pump jack and damaged six supply routes.

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 information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on 'Z' or Greenwich Mean Time.

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.