PRESS RELEASE | May 18, 2018
May 18: Coalition, partners target Daesh remnants in Iraq and Syria
CJTFOIR

May 18, 2018

Release # 20180518-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners have increased offensive activity against Daesh targets in designated parts of Iraq and Syria throughout the month of May under Operation Roundup.

On May 1, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the resumption of major offensive operations in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. Since then, the SDF has continued to gain ground through offensive operations, coupled with precision Coalition strike support.

During the first 17 days of Operation Roundup, the Coalition has conducted 132 strikes with 161 engagements. This demonstrates a 78% increase over the 74 strikes conducted in March, and sets OIR’s strike tempo at a level that will likely surpass the 183 strikes recorded for the entire month of April 2018.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to exert pressure on Daesh senior leaders and associates in order to degrade, disrupt and dismantle Daesh structures and remove terrorists throughout Iraq and Syria. Daesh morale is sinking on the frontlines as privileged Daesh leaders increasingly flee the battlefield, taking resources with them.

Operations over the coming weeks will continue to build momentum against Daesh remnants remaining in the Iraq-Syria border region and the MERV. The Coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of Daesh here, increasing peace and stability in the region and protecting all our homelands from the Daesh threat.

Weekly Strike Summary

Between May 11 and May 17, Coalition military forces conducted 66 strikes consisting of 80 engagements in Iraq and Syria.

On May 17 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of nine engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh-held building, one Daesh weapons storage facility and one Daesh supply route.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on May 17, 2018.

On May 16 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 12 engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, 10 strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh vehicle and one Daesh fighting position.

• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed one Daesh machinery piece.

On May 16 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of five engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Hawijah, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh-held building and one Daesh IED facility.

On May 15 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of nine engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh command and control center, one Daesh vehicle, one Daesh-held building and one Daesh IED facility.

• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed four Daesh command and control centers.

On May 15 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Rawah, one strike destroyed 10 Daesh caves.

On May 14 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 11 engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh fighting position, one Daesh logistics office, one Daesh headquarters building, and one Daesh command and control center.

• Near Al Shadaddi, three strikes destroyed one Daesh logistics facility, one Daesh mortar system and one Daesh ammo cache.

On May 14 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.

• Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed one Daesh campsite.

On May 13 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of nine engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, six strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh supply route and three Daesh VBIED factories.

• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed one Daesh-held communication building.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on May 13, 2018.

On May 12 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 10 engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed four Daesh fighting positions and one Daesh supply route.

On May 12 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.

• One strike took place near Al Qaim.

On May 11 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of six engagements against Daesh targets.

• Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh fighting position.

• Near Al Shadaddi, one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed four Daesh-held buildings.

On May 11 in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets.

• One strike took place near Al Qaim.

• Near Kirkuk, one strike destroyed five Daesh tunnels and two Daesh-held buildings.

This Coalition strike release contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing, or remotely piloted aircraft, rocket propelled artillery and ground-based tactical artillery.

A strike, as defined in the Coalition release, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect in that location. For example, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone Daesh vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of Daesh-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined.

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. The information used to compile the daily strike releases is based on ‘Z’ or Greenwich Mean Time.