PRESS RELEASE | May 8, 2016
May 8: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
May 08, 2016
Release # 20160508-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA — On May 7, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using 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 Manbij, two strikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Palmyra, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Waleed, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL storage facility and an ISIL bed down location and damaged a storage facility and a bed down location.
Iraq
* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Bayji, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Fallujah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL fighting position, two ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and four ISIL rockets.
* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine position.
* Near Mosul, six strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL vehicles.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed 10 ISIL rocket rails.
* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL light machine gun.
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.