PRESS RELEASE | Aug. 21, 2015
Aug. 21: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
August 21, 2015

Release # 20150821
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Aug. 20, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 airstrikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 23 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter and fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

“This week the coalition conducted 15 airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in the vicinity of Mosul,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR, public affairs officer. “We eliminated a number of terrorists from the battle field, destroyed equipment and restricted their freedom of movement.”

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

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL structures and an ISIL sniper firing position.
* Near Al Hawl, three airstrikes destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL cache.
* Near Aleppo, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL hell cannon.
* Near Kobani, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL artillery piece and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

Iraq

* Near Ar Rutbah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.
* Near Bayji, four airstrikes struck one large and three small ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL buildings and two ISIL VBIEDs.
* Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL mortar systems.
* Near Haditha, one airstrike struck an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL heavy machine guns.
* Near Kisik, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL rocket firing position.
* Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar firing position and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL mortar firing position.
* Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL recoilless rifle.
* Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Tuz, three airstrikes destroyed 17 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL fuel storage facility, an ISIL vehicle storage facility and two ISIL vehicles.

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 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 airstrikes in Iraq include Australia, 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.