# September 23: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

/ Published Sept. 23, 2016
September 23, 2016 Release #20160923-01FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **SOUTHWEST ASIA –** On Sept. 22, coalition military forces conducted 30 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes using attack, bomber and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, 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, one strike destroyed two ISIL oil well heads.*       Near Al Shaddadi, one strike destroyed inoperable Coalition equipment.*       Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL pump jacks.*       Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes damaged 14 ISIL supply routes.*       Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions.*       Near Mar'a, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an IED and a fighting position.**Iraq***       Near Al Baghdadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle, and a rocket rail.*       Near Hit, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building.*       Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed an IED factory, a weapons cache, and a heavy machine gun.*       Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two vehicles and a weapons cache.*       Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactial unit and destroyed four mortar systems, two vehicles, and a supply cache.*       Near Sinjar, one strike engaged an ISIL tactial unit and suppressed a heavy machine gun.*       Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and 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.