Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

02.19.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Joshua Arends 

Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve   

SOUTHWEST ASIA- On Feb. 18, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using attack, ground-attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter, attack, 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 destroyed an ISIL workover rig.
* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL vehicles and two ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Al Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Manbij, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed eight ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Albu Hayat, one strike destroyed 13 ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL weapons storage facility and destroyed 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL excavator, and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Ramadi, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL staging areas.
* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.

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 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, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

• Date Taken: 02.19.2016
• Date Posted: 02.19.2016 02:18
• Story ID: 189267
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)