PRESS RELEASE | May 17, 2016
May 17: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 17, 2016

Release # 20160517-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 16, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using attack 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 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 Al Shadaddi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mar’a, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery piece.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL bunker and two ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Ar Rutbah, one strike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL fuel tanker, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and an ISIL front end loader.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and two ISIL heavy machine guns.
* Near Qayyarah, five strikes struck three separate ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL assembly area, and two ISIL rocket rails and suppressed two ISIL mortar positions.

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.