May 24: Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq
 
  May 24, 2016Release # 2016024-01FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **SOUTHWEST
 ASIA** **—** On May 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL 
terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces 
conducted seven strikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft 
against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces 
conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government 
of Iraq using 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 Al Shaddadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.*  Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL military garrison.*  Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.*  Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. **Iraq***  Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).* 
 Near Fallujah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 
an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL front end loader, an ISIL mortar 
system, three ISIL VBIED storage facilities, two ISIL rocket positions, 
and three ISIL mortar positions.*  Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL IED storage facility.* 
 Near Mosul, four strikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL VBIED, an
 ISIL mortar system, and an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an 
ISIL mortar position. *  Near Qayyarah, one strike struck two ISIL headquarters.*  Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.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.