October 17: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

October 17, 2016
Release # 20161017-04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA - On Oct. 16, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, 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 Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed six oil tanker trucks and an oil pump jack.
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed two oil pump jacks.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged four ISIL supply routes.
* Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.
* Near Mar'a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery system and a tunnel.
* Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units, two staging areas, 12 assembly areas, and a bridge; destroyed six tunnel entrances, five supply caches, four repeater tower generators, four mortar systems, a repeater tower, four repeater antennas, four solar panels, two artillery systems, two vehicles, two tunnels, and an anti-air artillery system; damaged a trench tunnel network; and suppressed three mortar systems.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL-held buildings and two mortar systems.
* Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIL VBIED factory and destroyed a vehicle and a VBIED.
* Near Sinjar, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, two staging areas, and a headquarters building; destroyed a mortar system; and suppressed two mortar positions.

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.