PRESS RELEASE | April 8, 2016
April 8: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
April 08, 2016

Release # 20160408-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On April 7, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using attack 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 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 Al Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Mar’a, seven strikes struck seven separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL command and control node, and two ISIL vehicles.

Iraq
* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Hit, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL supply cache, an ISIL boat, two ISIL vehicles, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Kirkuk, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL bunker, two ISIL vehicles, seven ISIL rocket systems, and an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
* Near Mosul, seven strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL VBIED manufacturing facility and destroyed an ISIL tunnel system, four ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed two ISIL assembly areas and two ISIL supply caches.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL supply cache and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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.