Coalition Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2015 – U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, which took place between 8 a.m. March 6 and 8 a.m. today, local time, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria

Attack, fighter and bomber aircraft conducted 12 airstrikes in Syria:

-- Near Kobani, six airstrikes struck three tactical units, destroyed two fighting positions and damaged one heavy machine-gun position.

-- Near Kobani, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Kobani, five airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL modular oil refinery and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 32 airstrikes in Iraq:

-- Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units, destroyed two buildings, two check points, two ISIL vehicles and one mortar, damaged an anti-air defense artillery gun and a weapons cache, and neutralized an excavator.

-- Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed two anti-air defense guns.

-- Near Fallujah, two airstrikes struck two tactical units and destroyed one fighting position and one sniper position.

-- Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck one tactical unit and destroyed one vehicle and one weapons cache.

-- Near Huwayjah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed six ISIL excavators and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Fallujah, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, an ISIL fighting position and destroyed three ISIL vehicles.

-- Near Haditha, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar tube and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Kirkuk, an airstrike struck multiple ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL excavators.

-- Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL bomb factory and an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Qaim, an airstrike struck an ISIL staging area.

-- Near Fallujah, four airstrikes struck two ISIL large tactical units, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIL vehicles, two ISIL buildings, two ISIL armored vehicles and an ISIL storage facility.

-- Near Haditha, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Kirkuk, two airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL bunker.

-- Near Tal Afar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

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, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Separately, a U.S. bomber aircraft yesterday attacked a staging area used by the Khorasan group, a network of veteran al-Qaida operatives plotting external attacks against the United States and its allies, officials said. The airstrike near Aleppo, Syria, struck a large tactical unit and destroyed four buildings and three tents, they added.