PRESS RELEASE | June 5, 2016
June 5: Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria and Iraq
June 05, 2016

Release # 20160605-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On June 4, 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 rocket artillery and bomber, ground-attack, 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 Manbij, nine strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL-used bridge, five ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL headquarters.
* Near Mar’a, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL bed down location and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL mortar system, and an ISIL weapons storage facility.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed four ISIL rockets rails, an ISIL rocket cache, and an ISIL petroleum, oil, and lubricants facility.
* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL recoilless rifle, and two ISIL tunnels and damaged two ISIL fighting positions and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL boat, three ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Mosul, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL mortar system and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL headquarters and destroyed 17 ISIL boats.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and 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.