PRESS RELEASE | Feb. 9, 2017
February 9: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
CJTFOIR

February 09, 2017
Release # 20170209-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Feb. 8, Coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 64 engagements against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Syria
In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 21 engagements using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

* Near Al Bab, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed two mortar systems, a VBIED, vehicle, and a tunnel entrance.
* Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two tunnel entrances, a tactical vehicle, a vehicle, and an IED; and damaged six supply routes.

Iraq
The Iraqi Security Forces are leading the Coalition’s fight to rid Iraq of ISIL. They are willing to take the brunt of the fighting to liberate their country and do not seek or desire the Coalition’s participation in direct ground combat operations. The Government of Iraq welcomes the Coalition because we are assisting them with our unique capabilities, at their request.

Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 43 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft; as well as artillery and rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

* Near Haditha, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed two weapons caches, a fighting position, and an ISIL-held building; and suppressed a mortar team.
* Near Kirkuk, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL-held buildings.
* Near Kisik, ones strike engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a supply cache and damaged a tunnel.
* Near Mosul, six strikes engaged six ISIL tactical units; destroyed five watercraft, four vehicles, three excavators, three engineering equipment pieces, two ISIL-held buildings, a weapons cache, an ISIL headquarters, a front-end loader, a crane, a mortar system, a backhoe and a command and control node; damaged five supply routes; and suppressed six mortar teams.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike damaged three supply routes.
* Near Tuz, one strike damaged a supply route.

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 engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect for that location.

For example, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIL-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility 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 information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on ‘Z’ or Greenwich Mean Time.

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.