PRESS RELEASE | July 10, 2016
July 10: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
July 10, 2016

Release # 20160710-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On July 9, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes using bomber, attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, 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 Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed two ISIL oil wellheads.
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL used-bridge.
* Near Manbij, 11 strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL-used bridge and suppressed an ISIL sniper position.

Iraq
* Near Bashir, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.
* Near Bayji, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL tunnel.
* Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL artillery piece and an ISIL bunker.
* Near Mosul, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL excavator, four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL fighting position, six ISIL rockets, and four ISIL rocket rails and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Ramadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
Additionally, due to an administrative error, three strikes were not reported on the July 9 release. The correct assessment reads:

Syria
* Near Manbij, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge.

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.