PRESS RELEASE | July 16, 2016
July 16: Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
July 16, 2016

Release # 20160716-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On July 15, 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 helicopter and bomber, 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 Raqqah, two strikes struck two ISIL oil pump-jacks.
* Near Manbij, nine strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 14 ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL vehicles.
* Near Mar’a, two strikes destroyed three ISIL mortar systems.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
* Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes destroyed 21 ISIL boats and suppressed two ISIL mortar positions.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area.
* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL VBIED factory and damaged an ISIL excavator.

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.