PRESS RELEASE | May 26, 2015
May 24: Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 24, 2015

Release # 20150524
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., May 23, and 8 a.m., May 24, local time. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes using attack, bomber and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“The Coalition is continuing to target Daesh support zones throughout the battlespace,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR Chief of Public Affairs. “Striking explosives and weapons manufacturing facilities will advance the pressure on Daesh military capacity.”

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

Syria

Near Al Hasakah, nine airstrikes struck two large and three small ISIL tactical units, destroying eight ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL tank and an ISIL armored vehicle.

Near Kobani, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

Near Baghdadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Near Al Qaim, two airstrikes struck an ISIL homemade explosive manufacturing facility, destroying an ISIL vehicle.

Near Makhmur, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL buildings and two ISIL heavy machine guns.

Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, an ISIL weapons manufacturing facility and an ISIL defensive position, destroying an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL building and an ISIL tank.

Near Ramadi, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL artillery piece, an ISIL armored personnel carrier, an ISIL armored vehicle, and 15 armored vehicles, two armored personnel carriers and two other support vehicles located in ISIL controlled territory.

Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying three ISIL buildings, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL mortar system and an ISIL artillery piece.

Near Tal Afar, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar position, destroying three ISIL heavy machine guns and four ISIL fighting positions.

Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

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, 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 which have conducted airstrikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States. Coalition nations which have conducted airstrikes in Syria include Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the U.S.

Follow-up to Previous Strike Report

Near Tawama, Syria, on May 20 coalition military forces conducted two airstrikes using fighter aircraft against a headquarters and training area of a network of veteran al Qaida operatives, sometimes called the “Khorasan Group,” who are plotting external attacks against the United States and our allies. The airstrikes destroyed 10 buildings in two separate compounds. There were no observed women, children or non-combatants in the compounds at the time of the strike.