PRESS RELEASE | June 18, 2016
June 18: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
June 18, 2016

Release # 20160618-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On June 17, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes using bomber, 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 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 Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed nine ISIL oil well heads.
* Near Al Shadaddi, one strike struck an ISIL-used logistics route.
* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL-used logistics route and an ISIL-used culvert.
* Near Manbij, eight strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL command and control node and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL mortar system.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.
* Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL assembly areas.
* Near Bayji, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL VBIED factory, and an ISIL improvised weapons factory and destroyed 15 ISIL fighting positions, eight ISIL heavy machine guns, five ISIL light machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL rocket propelled grenade system, and an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL weapons storage facility and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL boat and suppressed an 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.