On Dec. 9, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber, attack, 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 Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Kobani, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL building.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and wounded two ISIL fighters.

* Near Al Qaim, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles.

* Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Kisik, three strikes [1 British] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL boats, five ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL weapons caches, and four ISIL command and control nodes. [see video below]

* Near Sinjar, two strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL fighting position, and two ISIL vehicles.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL vehicle.

On Wednesday 9 December, a pair of Tornados provided close air support to Kurdish soldiers fighting Daesh in northern Iraq, and used a Paveway IV guided bomb to destroy a terrorist position, including a mortar team, centred on a building near Kisik.

A Reaper maintained overwatch for the Kurds into the night, and having assisted other coalition aircraft in a successful strike on a heavy machine-gun position, its crew conducted successful Hellfire missile attacks of their own against three Daesh vehicles south of Sinjar, despite the trucks being parked under cover.

On 9 December 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces’ offensive operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On Dec. 8, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes using fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter, bomber, attack, 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 Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL oil well-head.

* Near Mar’a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike struck an ISIL oil well-head.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed four ISIL bunkers and seven ISIL trenches.

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL rockets, and an ISIL weapons cache.

* Near Kirkuk, one strike [French] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL fighting positions, and suppressed an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed four ISIL rockets.

* Near Mosul, two strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Qayyarah, seven strikes [2 British] struck an ISIL logistical facility, an ISIL training facility, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL weapons storage facility, two ISIL staging areas, an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL bunker.

* Near Ramadi, four strikes struck three separate large ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bed down locations, two ISIL light machine guns, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tactical vehicle, three ISIL buildings, four ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL VBIED factory, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL compound, an ISIL resupply location, two ISIL command and control nodes, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, three strikes [1 or more British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and immobilized an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

* Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL homemade explosives cache, an ISIL bed down location, and a VBIED factory.

8 December: West of Qayyara, Tornados conducted two Brimstone attacks on Daesh terrorists.

That evening, a further pair of Tornados assisted Iraqi soldiers north-east of Bayji; the GR4s used Paveway IVs to destroy three Daesh positions which were directing heavy machine-gun and mortar fire at the Iraqis.

On 8 December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS compounds used as staging areas and weapons caches during two separate airstrikes west of Makhmur using precision guided munitions.

Depuis le 2 décembre 2015, les équipages français ont réalisé 69 sorties aériennes au-dessus des zones contrôlées par Daech en Irak et en Syrie, dont 48 de bombardement sur des objectifs planifiés ou d’opportunité et 11 de recueil de renseignement.

32 objectifs de Daech ont été détruits.

Appui au sol

12 frappes d’appui au sol (close air support) ont été réalisées au cours de la semaine.

· En Irak, la force Chammal a concentré ses efforts sur les missions d’appui au sol dans la région de Ramadi, où des combats sont toujours en cours. En 92 heures, les équipages des Rafale Marine et des Mirage 2000 de l’armée de l’air ont ainsi effectué 6 frappes, dont 3 dans la seule journée du 4 décembre.

· 6 frappes ont par ailleurs été réalisées dans les régions de Sinjar, Mossoul, Falloujah, Haditha et Kirkouk.

Frappes sur des objectifs planifiés

3 raids ont été conduits sur des objectifs planifiés au cours de la semaine.

· Le 2 décembre 2015 les Mirage 2000 ont frappé à Tall Afar un site de stockage d’armement et de fabrication d’engins explosifs improvisés (IED).

· Le 5 décembre 2015 en Syrie, Chammal a de nouveau frappé un objectif planifié, en coordination avec la coalition. Engagés à partir de la Jordanie, deux avions de chasse ont bombardé des têtes de puits de pétrole dans la région de Deir ez-Zor.

· Le 8 décembre, des Rafale intégrés dans un raid de la coalition ont détruit un camp d’entrainement et de stockage de munitions situés entre les villes de Mossoul et Kirkouk.

Nederlandse F-16’s bestookten een hoofdkwartier en opslagplaatsen van ISIS in Irak. Ze vlogen ongeveer 10 missies. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 1 tot 7 december.

In het Noord-Irakese Erbil kregen 700 Peshmerga-strijders les van onder meer Nederlandse instructeurs. De strijders volgen de Infanterie Basiscursus. In Bagdad gingen de Iraakse cursisten verder met de verschillende commando-opleidingen.

On Dec. 7, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber, 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 Hawl, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mar’a, five strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL structure and wounded two ISIL fighters.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL tunnel, damaged an ISIL trench, and wounded two ISIL fighters.

* Near Kisik, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL rocket cache.

* Near Mosul, one strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL ammo caches, 12 ISIL buildings, an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL sniper position, seven ISIL heavy machine guns, four ISIL staging areas, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL tunnel entrance, seven ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL supply caches, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed three ISIL weapons caches, nine ISIL bunkers, three ISIL tunnels, and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL homemade explosives facility and two ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED).

* Near Qayyarah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL logistics facility and an ISIL VBIED factory.

7 December: A pair of Tornado GR4s provided close air support to offensive operations by Iraqi forces in western Ramadi. A Daesh mortar position was identified and successfully engaged with a Brimstone missile.

Over northern Iraq, a Reaper was meanwhile supporting Kurdish troops, and it used a Hellfire missile to destroy a terrorist vehicle.

On Dec. 6, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hawl, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and three ISIL vehicles.

* Near Dayr Ar Zawr, four strikes [1 British] struck four ISIL oil well-heads.

* Near Mar’a, one strike damaged an ISIL artillery piece.

Iraq

* Near Kisik, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Mosul, one strike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ramadi, seven strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 13 ISIL buildings, nine ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL heavy machine guns, three ISIL staging areas, two ISIL house borne IEDs, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL tunnel, an ISIL IED, an ISIL assembly area, wounded five ISIL fighters, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

6 December: RAF Tornado GR4s carried out a further UK mission against additional wellheads in the extensive and sprawling Omar oil field. They joined other coalition aircraft in a carefully coordinated strike against the oil infrastructure upon which Daesh relies for much of their revenue to fund their barbaric activities. The GR4s conducted successful attacks using Paveway IV guided bombs.

The Tornados then joined Typhoon FGR4s, also flying from RAF Akrotiri, in conducting armed reconnaissance to investigate possible further terrorist targets.

On 5 December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions south-southwest of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

Le 5 décembre 2015 en Syrie, Chammal a de nouveau frappé un objectif planifié, en coordination avec la coalition. Engagés à partir de la Jordanie, deux avions de chasse ont bombardé des têtes de puits de pétrole dans la région de Deir ez-Zor.

On Dec. 5, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber and attack aircraft against ISIL targets.

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL building.

* Near Ayn Isa, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL excavator, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and an ISIL building.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes [1 French] destroyed five ISIL oil well-heads. [see video below]

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL tunnel.

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL rocket rail.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar tube, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL excavator, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and suppressed a separate ISIL heavy machine gun position.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL sniper position, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, three ISIL buildings, four ISIL command and control nodes, three ISIL staging areas, two ISIL weapons caches, damaged an ISIL fighting position, and denied ISIL access to terrain. [see video below]

* Near Sinjar, two strikes [Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL heavy machine guns.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and an ISIL vehicle.

On Dec. 4, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber ground-attack 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 Hawl, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and four ISIL fighting positions.

Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Near Ayn Isa, one strike produced in inconclusive results.

Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes [British] struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant well-head.

Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Iraq

Near Habbaniyah, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.

Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Near Mosul, two strikes [1 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and two ISIL fighting positions.

Near Ramadi, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL bunker, two ISIL VBIEDs, 15 ISIL fighting positions, 12 ISIL buildings, three ISIL light machine guns, three ISIL RPGs, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL assembly area, five ISIL staging areas, an ISIL weapons cache, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL VBIED and an ISIL fighting position.

During the evening of Friday 4 December, Tornado GR4s and Typhoon FGR4s, based at RAF Akrotiri, conducted a further series of strikes on targets in the very large Daesh-controlled oilfield at Omar in eastern Syria. As with the attacks on 3 December which immediately followed the Parliamentary decision to extend offensive air operations to Syrian airspace, the Tornados and Typhoons used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit wellheads, thus cutting off the terrorists’ oil revenue at the very source. Eight attacks [3 strikes] were carried out, and early reports suggest that they were successful.

Our aircraft then remained on patrol to collect intelligence on possible terrorist positions and be ready to strike any further targets that might be identified in eastern Syria or western Iraq. The Typhoons and the Tornados received vital support from an RAF Voyager air refuelling tanker during their missions.

At the same time, an RAF Reaper provided close air support to Kurdish security forces in north-west Iraq as they continue to drive back Daesh after defeating the terrorists at Sinjar. A Daesh truck-bomb was identified south of Sinjar, and the Reaper’s crew were able to destroy it by means of a direct hit from a Hellfire missile.

On 4 December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On Dec. 3, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes using attack, fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, fighter, and attack aircraft against ISIL targets.

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

• Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant.

• Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck an ISIL oil field well head.

• Near Ayn Isa, four strikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

• Near Mar’a, eight strikes struck seven separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, four ISIL staging areas, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle borne explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL compound, and wounded four ISIL fighters.

Iraq

• Near Kisik, one strike suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.

• Near Ramadi, four strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 14 ISIL heavy machine guns, five ISIL RPGs, an ISIL recoilless rifle, two ISIL anti-air artillery pieces, three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL sniper positions, three ISIL staging areas, three ISIL bed down locations, two ISIL compounds, an ISIL VBIED, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

• Near Mosul, one strike [Canadian] damaged an ISIL VBIED storage location.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

Overnight on 3/4 December, Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri conducted missions over Syria and Iraq. Two GR4s flew an armed reconnaissance patrol over eastern Syria, gathering intelligence on terrorist activity.

A second pair of GR4s patrolled over western Iraq, where they provided close air support to Iraqi forces engaged in combat with Daesh in and around Ramadi. A terrorist sniper team opened fire from a compound on Iraqi troops, but was silenced by a direct hit from a Paveway IV guided bomb.

On 3 December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northwest of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

Daech est aujourd’hui sous pression, à l’intérieur et aux périmètres de la zone qu’il contrôle.

En Irak, au Nord et à l’Est, la coalition consolide ses positions dans la région de Baiji et dans la région de Sinjar. À Sinjar, l’offensive des forces irakiennes a permis de couper l’axe entre Raqqah et Mossoul qui servait de cordon logistique à Daech. Face à cette situation, Daechmultiplie ses actions de harcèlement et cherche à renforcer ses points forts.

À l’Ouest de l’Irak, le long de l’Euphrate, les forces irakiennes, bénéficiant de l’appui aérien de la coalition, ont réussi à encercler la ville de Ramadi. Elles exercent par ailleurs une pression sur une ligne Hit – Haditha.

En Syrie, les frappes se poursuivent sur les centres de commandement et d’entraînement de Daech, ainsi que sur ses capacités logistiques et ses sources de financement.

La force Chammal poursuit sa campagne aérienne. Du 26 novembre au 2 décembre 2015, les équipages ont réalisé 83 sorties aériennes :

• 23 objectifs ont été détruits en Irak ;
• 2 frappes planifiées ont été réalisées. Elles ont visé des infrastructures de fabrication d’engins explosifs improvisés, dans la région de Al Raïm et dans la région de Tal Afar (en Irak).

L’armée française poursuit par ailleurs son action de formation au profit des forces irakiennes, principalement à Bagdad.

On Dec. 2, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, 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 Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL check point.

* Near Abu Kamal, three strikes struck three ISIL oil field well heads.

* Near Al Hasakah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes [British] struck six ISIL oil field well heads.

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, denied an ISIL tactical vehicle movement, and wounded eight ISIL fighters.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL heavy machine guns.

* Near Fallujah, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

* Near Mosul, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Ramadi, eight strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tunnel, three ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), nine ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL light machine gun positions, three ISIL heavy machine gun positions, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL tactical vehicle and denied ISIL access to terrain. [see video below]

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL-used bridge.

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes [French] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL weapons storage facility, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Following the vote in the House of Commons last night, Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft flew their first offensive operation against Daesh terrorist targets inside Syria.

The mainstay of Daesh’s financial income is derived from exploitation of a number of oilfields that they hold. These are overwhelmingly located in Daesh’s heartlands in eastern Syria. Several of these oilfields have already been effectively targeted by other coalition partners; RAF aircraft and precision weaponry are well suited to attacking, with low collateral risk, this type of target.

Overnight, RAF Tornado GR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker and a Reaper, and operating in conjunction with other coalition aircraft, employed Paveway IV guided bombs to conduct strikes against six targets within the extensive oilfield at Omar, 35 miles inside Syria’s eastern border with Iraq. The Omar oilfield is one of the largest and most important to Daesh’s financial operations, and represents over 10% of their potential income from oil. Carefully selected elements of the oilfield infrastructure were targeted, ensuring the strikes will have a significant impact on Daesh’s ability to extract the oil to fund their terrorism.

Coalition air operations have already degraded Daesh’s front-line military capabilities and have assisted the Iraqi ground forces in liberating some 30% of the territory that the terrorists initially seized in that country during the summer of 2014. By extending RAF offensive operations into Syria, our aircraft are now able to help dismantle the means by which Daesh plan, direct and sustain their campaign of terror.

Before our aircrew conducted their attacks, as is normal they used the aircraft’s advanced sensors to confirm that no civilians were in the proximity of the targets, who might be placed at risk. Our initial analysis of the operation indicates that the strikes were successful.