PRESS RELEASE | May 10, 2016
May 10: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 10, 2016

Release # 20160510-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 9, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and bomber, fighter, 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 Al Shadaddi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL artillery piece, and an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, three strikes destroyed an ISIL tactical unit, three ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Al Huwayjah, four strikes struck an ISIL VBIED factory and destroyed an ISIL tunnel system and suppressed an ISIL mortar firing position and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Albu Hayat, two strikes destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL staging area, and an ISIL command and control node.
* Near Bashir, one strike destroyed an ISIL VBIED.
* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Kisik, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Mosul, eight strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 22 ISIL assembly areas, four ISIL supply caches, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL bulldozer, three ISIL rocket rails, and an ISIL rocket position.
* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL artillery pieces, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL bulldozer, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, two strikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed two ISIL 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.

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, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.