PRESS RELEASE | May 23, 2016
May 23: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 23, 2016

Release # 2016023-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes using attack, fighter, bomber 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 attack and fighter 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 Ar Raqqah, three strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosives (VBEID) facility and an ISIL oil pump-jack.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL weapons storage facility and destroyed an ISIL rocket rail.

Iraq
* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.
* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck an ISIL weapons facility and an ISIL improvised weapons factory and destroyed three ISIL bunkers and two ISIL tunnel entrances.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL vehicle, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Mosul, five strikes struck an ISIL communications control center and destroyed two ISIL VBIEDs, two ISIL mortar systems, and two ISIL supply caches and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

Additionally, on the strike release issued 22 May the following strikes were not included due to an administrative error.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

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.