Centcom Officials Provide Update on Counterterrorism Strikes in Yemen

TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command has conducted six counterterrorism airstrikes targeting the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula terrorist network in Yemen in three separate governorates since May 16, bringing the total number of airstrikes to 34, Centcom officials announced today.

U.S. Central Command

The airstrikes took place in Yemen’s Shabwah, Hadramawt and Bayda governorates, officials said, noting that a recent United Nations report assessed that AQAP leaders recognize Yemen as a hub for external operations.

“AQAP has taken advantage of the conflicts in Yemen to plot, direct and encourage terror attacks abroad,” said Army Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a Centcom spokesman. “We will not relent on our pursuit of AQAP terrorists as they remain a significant threat to regional security and stability and the safety of Americans at home and abroad.

Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIS Targets in Iraq, Syria

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to pursue the lasting defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in designated parts of Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Operation Roundup, which began May 1 to accelerate the defeat of ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and Iraq-Syria border region, has continued to gain ground and remove terrorists from the battlefield through offensive operations coupled with precision coalition strike support.

Between Aug. 20-26, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes, consisting of 26 engagements, in Iraq and Syria

Strikes in Syria

There were no reported strikes conducted Syria yesterday.

On Aug. 25, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIS supply route, an ISIS-held building and an ISIS vehicle.

On Aug. 24, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

On Aug. 23, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal.

On Aug. 22, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes destroyed three ISIS supply routes.

On Aug. 21, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes destroyed three ISIS supply routes and an ISIS headquarters.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on Aug. 20.

Strikes in Iraq

Yesterday in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets near Mahkmur. The strike destroyed an ISIS-held building.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Aug. 25.

On Aug. 24, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Rutbah, a strike destroyed two ISIS-held buildings.

-- Near Mosul, a strike destroyed seven ISIS-held buildings.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Aug. 23.

On Aug. 22, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets near Wadi Ashai. The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building and three ISIS vehicles.

There were no reported strikes conducted in Iraq on Aug. 21.

On Aug. 20, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIS supply route.

-- Near Jazeera Desert, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS logistics hubs and an ISIS vehicle.

Additional Strikes

Coalition military forces conducted two strikes in Syria that were not reported in the previous release:

On Aug. 19, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

On Aug. 18, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strike destroyed an ISIS supply route.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and ground-based tactical artillery, officials noted.

A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.

For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force 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.

Soldiers Prepare Georgian Troops for Afghanistan Deployment

By Army Pfc. Matthew Marcellus, 24th Press Camp Headquarters

HOHENFELS TRAINING AREA, Germany -- The continuous dramatic thumping of the HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter’s rotor blades announced the arrival of help from above as the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion conducted a series of aviation and medical evacuation training exercises here in support of the Georgian military and Operation Atlantic Resolve, Aug. 21.

“We’re out here supporting Georgian troops who are being trained by U.S. Marine Corps joint terminal attack controllers, and are getting ready for deployment,” said Army Sgt. Rodolfo Echeverria, a flight medic with Charlie Company C, 2nd GSAB. “Out here in the field, they’re running through company- and platoon-level training lanes, and we’re also doing medical evacuation so that they have some training with the helicopters.”

The 2nd GSAB has been conducting the joint exercises since Aug. 19, and has focused on training designed to simulate combat scenarios.

“It’s important for the Georgians to know how to respond and work with U.S. medevac assets,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jacob Martin, a pilot with the 2nd GSAB. “When they deploy, they will know how to evacuate their wounded.”

Preparing for Deployment

The Georgian military is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, where it is crucial that they are able to communicate and work with medical assets in a timely, safe and efficient manner.

“They‘ll know some more about how the process works and how to approach the aircraft safely,” Echeverria said. “If they have to call in a medical evacuation, I feel like they’re pretty well prepared now.”

Training such as this further builds relationships between the U.S. Army and its Georgian partners, the soldiers said.

“This fosters a good spirit, they know that they can rely on us,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michelle Huang, a pilot in command for the training mission with the 2nd GSAB. “They can call us, and we’ll come to get them.”

The exercises are multifaceted and are necessary training for both the 2nd GSAB as well as the Georgian military.

“It’s imperative that we get out here to conduct this type of training,” Martin said. “We are not able to do realistic training unless there is a ground piece as well.”

Joint training between the U.S. Army and its European allies ensures the readiness, agility and lethality of coalition forces, Huang said.

“The more that we can train with our coalition forces here, before they enter combat, the better,” she said. “We’ll have better camaraderie and a stronger working relationship with our allies.”