April 27: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
 
  April 27, 2016Release # 20160427-01FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **SOUTHWEST
 ASIA** **—** On April 26, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL 
terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, Coalition military forces 
conducted 23 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government 
of Iraq using bomber, ground-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:**Iraq*** 
 Near Al Baghdadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed
 two ISIL tunnel systems, an ISIL tunnel entrance, an ISIL heavy machine
 gun, an ISIL recoilless rifle, and an ISIL fighting position.*  Near Bayji, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.* 
 Near Fallujah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed
 two ISIL mortar systems and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.*  Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL machine gun and an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.*  Near Kirkuk, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.*  Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL mortar system.* 
 Near Mosul, five strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and 
destroyed two ISIL rocket rails, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL fighting 
position and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun.*  Near Qayyarah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar system.*  Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.*  Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL supply cache.* 
 Near Tal Afar, three strikes destroyed two ISIL tunnel systems and an 
ISIL front end loader and denied ISIL access to terrain.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.