SOUTHWEST ASIA - U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, Dec. 31, 2014, using fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 17 airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted 12 airstrikes in Iraq, Dec. 31, 2014, using fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against the ISIL terrorists.
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:
Syria
* Near Al Raqqah, two airstrikes destroyed five ISIL checkpoints and struck an ISIL staging area.
* Near Dayr az Zawr, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and struck an ISIL shipping container.
* Near Kobani, 13 airstrikes destroyed 12 ISIL buildings, four ISIL fighting positions, one ISIL vehicle and struck two ISIL tactical units and two large ISIL units.
Iraq
* Near Mosul, seven airstrikes destroyed six ISIL buildings and an ISIL fighting position and struck three ISIL fighting positions, five ISIL tactical units, two buildings, and a large ISIL unit.
* Near Fallujah, three airstrikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and struck two ISIL tactical units and a large ISIL unit.
* Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Taji, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL vehicles and one ISIL mortar system and struck an ISIL tactical unit.
Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.
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, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.