PRESS RELEASE | May 28, 2016
May 28: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 28, 2016

Release # 2016028-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 27, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 28 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft and against ISIL targets.

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

Syria
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) factory.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Manbij, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used cave.
* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL bunker and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Bayji, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Fallujah, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL vehicles and an ISIL tunnel entrance.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL VBIED.
* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Kisik, two strikes suppressed two separate ISIL mortar positions.
* Near Mosul, eight strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL assembly areas, six ISIL supply caches, an ISIL command and control node, and an ISIL VBIED and damaged an ISIL staging area and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL bunker.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL rocket position and an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tal Afar, four strikes struck three separate ISIL headquarters and an ISIL weapons storage facility.

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.