# August 31: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

/ Published Aug. 31, 2016
Southeast Asia, 
August 31, 2016 Release #20160831-01FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

**SOUTHWEST ASIA****–**On Aug. 30, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight 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 bomber, fighter, ground-attack 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, one strike destroyed two ISIL tanks, an ammunitions cache, and a tactical vehicle.*       Near Manbij, six strikes engaged four separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed five fighting positions, a vehicle, a weapons cache, and      two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.*       Near Washiyah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed a vehicle.

**Iraq**

*       Near Al Baghdadi, one strike produced inconclusive results.*       Near Albu Hayat, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.*       Near Bashir, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.*       Near Haditha, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed another fighting position.*       Near Hit, four strikes engaged an ISIL VBIED factory, a barracks, a headquarters building, and destroyed three fighting positions.*       Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system, and suppressed another mortar position.*       Near Mosul, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed a fighting position, a command and control node, two mortar systems, eight rocket rails, a rocket system, and a tunnel; damaged an excavator; and suppressed a mortar position.*       Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two mortar systems, a mortar cache, two vehicles, and an artillery system; and damaged another mortar system.*       Near Rawah, one strike engaged an ISIL weapons cache.*       Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed a vehicle.

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.