Feb. 24: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
 
  February 24, 2016
Release # 20160224-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **SOUTHWEST ASIA —** On Feb. 23, coalition military forces
continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition
military forces conducted 14 strikes using ground-attack, attack, and fighter
aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces
conducted four strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of
Iraq using fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. 
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last
press release:**Syria**
* Near Al Hasakah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed
three ISIL buildings, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL fighting position, and suppressed
a separate ISIL mortar system.
* Near Al Hawl, seven strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL
building, two ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL vehicles, and suppressed an
ISIL mortar system and an ISIL heavy machine gun and cratered two ISIL-used
roads. 
* Near Ayn Isa, one strike suppressed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised
explosive device (VBIED) and an ISIL anti-air artillery piece. 
* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant
and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Manbij, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.**Iraq**
* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.
* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed two ISIL weapons caches and five ISIL
assembly areas.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.
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.
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, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition
nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain,
Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United
Kingdom, and the United States.