Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 31, 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 yesterday, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria

Fighter-attack, fighter and bomber aircraft conducted 24 airstrikes in Syria:

-- Near Hasakah, seven airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and five ISIL small tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL motorcycles, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL command and control center.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, 17 airstrikes struck eight ISIL staging areas, three ISIL bridges, four ISIL checkpoints, an ISIL training area and an ISIL logistics site.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with the government of Iraq:

-- Near Qaim, two airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area.

-- Near Beiji, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL structures and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

-- Near Habbaniyah, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL fighting position and four ISIL rocket rails.

-- Near Haditha, two airstrikes destroyed five ISIL structures, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL weapons cache and an ISIL command and control center.

-- Near Makhmur, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery weapon and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

-- Near Ramadi, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and terrain denying ISIL a tactical advantage and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL excavators.

-- Near Sinjar, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Tal Afar, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL bunkers.

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

Task Force Official Reports Coalition Progress in ISIL Fight

By Cheryl Pellerin

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2015 – The 17-country coalition that stands against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has aided recent progress on the ground and in the air in Iraq and Syria, Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea told the Pentagon press corps today.

The chief of staff of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, or CJTF-OIR, spoke from Southwest Asia to members of the media during a live digital video conference. CJTF-OIR is the U.S.-led coalition’s response to ISIL.

During the briefing, Killea described overall coalition operations to help defeat ISIL and coalition support for the Iraqi Security Force fighting to liberate Ramadi.

Countries involved in the coalition include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and Hungary.

Effects on ISIL

“This is not the same fight as it was when it started, and I look at that based on the effects that we have had on ISIL,” Killea said.

“[ISIL is] much more territorial, meaning they're defending more than they’re on the offensive. Their attacks are smaller, they're more focused, and they're less enduring,” he noted.

“All you have to do is look at the gains that have been made on the ground recently to see that there is an effect and there is progress,” the general added.

In Iraq, more than 1,200 coalition personnel from 17 partner nations are working on training and advise-and-assist missions, and more than 11,000 Iraqi security force personnel have completed individual specialty courses through a program called Building Partner Capacity, or BPC, Killea said.

Training Forces

Coalition military trainers and advisers work at five separate sites where they train Iraqi and Kurdish security forces for four to six weeks to prepare them for anti-ISIL operations, he added, noting that coalition commitments eventually will total 1,500 members.

Killea said Iraqi security forces and about 1,100 Sunni tribal fighters have attended training and subject-matter exchanges at Taqaddum.

“Most recently,” he added, “more than 400 Peshmerga fighters attended the training program in Erbil. The coalition works in coordination with the government of Iraq, who manages the throughput of trainees for all these programs.”

Killea also reported progress in Syria. Anti-ISIL fighters have gained more than 5,300 square kilometers since May, and in one day alone this week they advanced more than 45 km. along their forward line of troops, he said.

Taking Back Territory

“This is important, as any territory taken back from ISIL means their freedom to maneuver and their access to supply lines gets reduced,” the general said.

The air campaign continues to strike ISIL facilities, vehicles and equipment, he said, and to enable the ISF in Iraq and anti-ISIL fighters in Syria.

Airstrikes have degraded ISIL's ability to mount large offensive attacks and reduced their ability to openly control towns and cities, Killea said, adding that more than 5,600 airstrikes have been conducted since the beginning of operations.

On Ramadi, the general said supporting the Iraqis' fight to retake that city is a high priority for the coalition, “and we will continue to support Iraqi security force ground maneuvers with airstrikes against ISIL targets in direct support of the government of Iraq objectives.”

He added, “Momentum is a better indicator of success than speed, and the [Iraqi security forces] have momentum in Ramadi.”

Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 30, 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 yesterday, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria

Fighter-attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine airstrikes in Syria:

-- Near Hasakah, eight airstrikes struck seven ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle bomb, six ISIL motorcycles and two ISIL vehicles.

-- Near Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 22 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with the government of Iraq:

-- Near Haditha, eight airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, five ISIL staging areas and as ISIL command and control site and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, three ISIL structures, an ISIL berm, an ISIL IED belt, eight ISIL mortar systems and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL heavy machine gun position.

-- Near Makhmur, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and three ISIL buildings.

-- Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL weapon cache, an ISIL excavator and an ISIL light machine gun.

-- Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tank, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL mortar system.

-- Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun and two ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

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