PRESS RELEASE | Sept. 25, 2016
September 25: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
CJTFOIR

September 25, 2016
Release # 20160925-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST ASIA – On Sept. 24, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed seven oil tanker trucks.
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed seven ISIL oil well heads and damaged two supply routes.
* Near Manbij, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two weapons caches, and a mortar system.
* Near Mar’a, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a VBIED, a vehicle, and a heavy machine gun.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed a watercraft, two vehicles, a VBIED, and damaged a vehicle.
* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL watercraft.
* Near Mosul, six strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed two vehicles, two tunnels, and an anti-air artillery system; and damaged four fighting positions.
* Near Ramadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactial unit and destroyed three vehicles, a heavy machine gun, and an anti-air artillery system.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, four strikes destroyed three ISIL headquarters buildings, a weapons cache, and a mortar system.

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, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.