PRESS RELEASE | May 7, 2016
May 7: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 07, 2016
Release # 20160507-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 6, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using ground-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.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL command and control node, and ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.
Iraq
* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and damaged an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL boat, and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Ar Rutbah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Bashir, one strike destroyed an ISIL command and control node.
* Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike damaged an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL communications facility and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL heavy machine gun and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
Additionally, on May 5, one strike was erroneously reported due to an administrative error. The correct assessment reads:
* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL command and control node, three ISIL rocket rails, and an ISIL bunker.
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.