PRESS RELEASE | July 13, 2016
July 13: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
July 13, 2016

Release # 20160713-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On July 12, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes using bomber, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, 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 Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed three ISIL oil wellheads.
* Near Manbij, eight strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Palmyra, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, five strikes struck an ISIL bed down location, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL weapons caches, and an ISIL weapons storage facility.
* Near Al Qaim, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area.
* Near Bayji, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Haditha, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL bunker, four ISIL tents, and an ISIL petroleum, oil, and lubricant site.
* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery piece.
* Near Kisik, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mosul, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL checkpoint, and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Rawah, one strike destroyed 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.