PRESS RELEASE | May 24, 2016
May 24: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 24, 2016

Release # 2016024-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using 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 Shaddadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL military garrison.
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
* Near Fallujah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL front end loader, an ISIL mortar system, three ISIL VBIED storage facilities, two ISIL rocket positions, and three ISIL mortar positions.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL IED storage facility.
* Near Mosul, four strikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL VBIED, an ISIL mortar system, and an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck two ISIL headquarters.
* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

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.