PRESS RELEASE | July 21, 2016
July 21: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
July 21, 2016

Release # 20160721-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On July 20, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using 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 Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Manbij, five strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and damaged a separate ISIL fighting position.

Iraq
* Near Al Qaim, one strike produced inconclusive results.
* Near Haditha, one strike destroyed an ISIL command and control node.
* Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mosul, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL headquarters, and an ISIL financial headquarters and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL artillery piece.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL boats, an ISIL mortar system, and an ISIL tunnel.
* Near Ramadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL fighting position, and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Sinjar, one strike struck one 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.

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.