June 23: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
 
  June 23, 2016Release # 20160623-01FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **SOUTHWEST
 ASIA —** On June 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL 
terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces 
conducted 12 strikes using attack, ground-attack, fighter, and remotely 
piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition 
military forces conducted 22 strikes coordinated with and in support of 
the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and 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 Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL-used bridge and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.* 
 Near Manbij, nine strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and
 destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL vehicles.*  Near Mar'a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. **Iraq***  Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL tunnel system.*  Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.*  Near Bashir, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL command and control nodes.* 
 Near Bayji, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 
two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL mortar system, an 
ISIL tunnel entrance, and an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive 
device (VBIED).*  Near Fallujah, four strikes struck four separate
 ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, an 
ISIL vehicle, five ISIL light machine guns, an ISIL rocket propelled 
grenade system, and an ISIL boat and damaged two separate ISIL fighting 
positions and denied ISIL access to terrain. *  Near Mosul, eight 
strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units, an ISIL ministry of oil
 headquarters, and an ISIL VBIED factory and destroyed three ISIL 
vehicles, two ISIL weapons caches, 10 ISIL assembly areas, two ISIL 
command and control nodes, and an ISIL tunnel entrance.*  Near 
Qayyarah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an 
ISIL assembly area and eight ISIL boats and denied ISIL access to 
terrain.*  Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 14 ISIL boats and two ISIL weapons caches. 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.