PRESS RELEASE | Feb. 27, 2016
Feb. 27: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
February 27, 2016

Release # 20160227-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Feb. 26, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using ground-attack, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 14 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 Tal Abyad, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
* Near Al Hawl, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle born improvised explosive device (VBIED).
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.
* Near Al Hasakah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL front end loader, and an ISIL VBIED.
* Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Kirkuk, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Kisik, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Mosul, seven strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL VBIED facility, and an ISIL weapons storage facility and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL rocket fire positions.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike produced inconclusive results.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

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.

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, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.