PRESS RELEASE | April 26, 2016
April 26: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
April 26, 2016

Release # 20160426-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On April 25, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, ground-attack, 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 Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mar’a, six strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL vehicles.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Ar Rutbah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Bayji, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Fallujah, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 11 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL-used bridges, an ISIL bunker, and two ISIL heavy machine guns and damaged a separate ISIL fighting position.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Hit, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Kirkuk, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL assembly area, and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL assembly area.
* Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL weapons storage facility and destroyed an ISIL supply cache.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL vehicle.

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.