PRESS RELEASE | Sept. 19, 2016
September 19: Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
CJTFOIR

September 19, 2016
Release # 20160919-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Sept. 18, coalition military forces conducted 28 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

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

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed two ISIL oil tanker trucks and an oil tanker trailer and damaged three supply routes.
* Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.
* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL VBIED factory and an oil tanker truck.
* Near Ayn Isa, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle, a command and control node, and an artillery system.
* Near Mar’a, eight strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, three IEDs, three vehicles, a mortar system, and a command and control node.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL IED factories.
* Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIL building.
* Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two vehicles, a fighting position, a mortar system, and two tunnel entrances.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an improvised weapons facility, a VBIED factory, an ISIL headquarters building, and two vehicles and suppressed a rocket launcher system.

* Near Ramadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL headquarters building, a mortar system, two supply caches, and four rocket rails.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and suppressed a mortar system.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a medium machine gun and suppressed a rocket-propelled grenande system.

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