On 31 May, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in Mosul and Tal Afar. The Australian aircraft struck Daesh heavy weapon sites and Daesh fighting positions with guided munitions over several hours of support.

Wednesday 31 May – Tornados and Typhoons struck two terrorist targets in western Mosul, and one near Raqqa…

The RAF is continuing to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh’s current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian casualties.

Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to conduct intensive operations against Daesh, particularly in western Mosul and around Raqqa. On Wednesday 31 May, Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, demolished a terrorist-held building to the west of Raqqa, whilst mixed formations of Tornado GR4s and Typhoons patrolled over Mosul, where they used two Brimstone missiles to engage Daesh positions which Iraqi security forces had encountered.

On May 30, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 49 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes consisting of 15 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Abu Kamal, five strikes destroyed 12 ISIS oil stills, two ISIS well heads, two ISIS oil separation tanks, and an ISIS oil truck.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS well head.

*Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed a fighting position and a VBIED.

*Near Tabqah, three strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle, an ISIS headquarters and a fighting position.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 34 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Bayji, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle, an ISIS staging area, and a front-end loader.

*Near Mosul, four strikes [1 Australian] engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed two mortar systems, two ISIS staging areas, a vehicle, a VBIED, and a fighting position; and damaged nine ISIS supply routes, two fighting positions, and a command and control node.

*Near Tal Afar, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two ISIS-held buildings and an ISIS staging area.

Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 29 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, two VBIEDs, and a weapons cache.

*Near Bayji, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

*Near Mosul, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four ISIS roadblocks, three VBIEDs, a tactical vehicle, a fighting position, and damaged 26 ISIS supply routes.

On 30 May, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in Mosul. The Australian aircraft struck a Daesh heavy weapon site with a guided munition over several hours of support.

On May 29, Coalition military forces conducted 26 strikes consisting of 66 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 25 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four ISIS well heads, an ISIS oil storage tank, an ISIS oil tanker truck, and a vehicle.

*Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, a tunnel, a mortar system, a weapons cache, a VBIED factory and a fighting position.

*Near Tabqah, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, an ISIS oil separator tank, and an ISIS headquarters.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 41 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Bayji, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two vehicles and a VBIED staging area.

*Near Mosul, four strikes [2 British, 1-2 Australian] engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed 34 vehicles, seven fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two mortar systems, two heavy machine guns, a medium machine gun, and a supply cache and damaged an ISIS-held building, an ISIS supply route and a fighting position.

*Near Rawah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.

*Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two cave entrances and an ISIS staging area.

Additionally, four strikes were conducted in Syria on May 28 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed a weapons cache, an ISIS staging area, and three fighting positions.

On 29 May, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in Mosul. The Australian aircraft struck Daesh fighting positions and a Daesh heavy weapon site with guided munitions over several hours of support.

Monday 29 May – Tornados and Typhoons hit five terrorist positions in Mosul…Mixed pairs of Tornados and Typhoons struck four Daesh positions in Mosul on Monday 29 May, including two defended with heavy machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as demolishing a large road block built by the terrorists.

On May 28, Coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes consisting of 79 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 21 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed three ISIS well heads.

*Near At Tanf, one strike destroyed three ISIS bunkers.

*Near Dawr Az Zawr, seven strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed nine ISIS fuel trucks, five ISIS well heads, an ISIS oil still, a VBIED facility; and damaged an ISIS-held building.

*Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, two VBIED factories, two VBIED facilities, and an ISIS mechanical facility.

*Near Tabqa, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 58 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Al Hawayjah, one strike destroyed two vehicles.

*Near Bayji, on strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a vehicle, a VBIED facility, and a VBIED.

*Near Mosul, five strikes [1-2 British, 1-2 Australian] engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 49 vehicles, seven ISIS roadblocks, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, an ISIS checkpoint, an ISIS staging area, a carport, a command and control node, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a medium machine gun; damaged 14 ISIS supply routes and a VBIED; and suppressed seven fighting positions and two ISIS tactical units.

Additionally, three strikes were conducted in Syria on May 27 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache.

On 28 May, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in Mosul. The Australian aircraft struck Daesh fighting positions with guided munitions over several hours of support.

Sunday 28 May – Tornados and Typhoons attacked four terrorist targets in Mosul… On Sunday 28 May, Brimstone-armed Tornados successfully attacked three terrorist positions in Mosul, whilst a Paveway IV from a Typhoon accounted for a fourth.

On May 27, Coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes consisting of 69 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 23 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads.

*Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Al Qaim, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed vehicle.

*Near Ar Rutbah, one strike destroyed a VBIED.

*Near Mosul, six strikes [1-2 Australian] engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, six heavy machine guns, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, three mortar systems, three VBIED, a vehicle, a medium machine gun; damaged an ISIS staging area; suppressed two ISIS tactical units and two mortar teams.

Additionally, two strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 26 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed 10 ISIS oil separators and an ISIS well head.

*Near Mosul, Iraq, one strike [1 British] engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two medium machine guns.

On 27 May, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in Mosul. The Australian aircraft struck several Daesh fighting positions and a Daesh heavy weapon site with guided munitions over several hours of support.

Saturday 27 May – Tornados and Typhoons struck a machine-gun team and a truck-bomb in western Mosul…Tornados and Typhoons continued operations over Mosul on Saturday 27 May; a Paveway IV eliminated a Daesh light machine-gun team, whilst a truck-bomb was destroyed with a Brimstone missile.

On May 26, Coalition military forces conducted 32 strikes consisting of 56 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 24 strikes consisting of 31 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads and destroyed an ISIS boat.

*Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.

*Near Abu Kamal, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS media center.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, May 23, two strikes destroyed three command and control nodes.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, May 24, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, and a vehicle.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 25 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Ar Rutbah, one strike destroyed a bunker.

*Near Bayji, one strike destroyed a mortar system and an ISIS storage container.

*Near Mosul, two strikes [1 British?] destroyed a VBIED and damaged 19 ISIS supply routes.

*Near Rawah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an observation post.

*Near Huwayjah, Iraq, one strike destroyed an ISIS media center.

*Near Al Qaim, Iraq, two strikes destroyed two ISIS media centers.

Friday 26 May – Tornados cratered two roads in Mosul to hamper terrorist movements…The following day [May 26th] , Tornados used two Paveways to crater roads in west Mosul to hamper any attempt by Daesh to move truck-bombs against the latest Iraqi advance.

On May 25, Coalition military forces conducted 30 strikes consisting of 88 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 33 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed an ISIS well head and a vehicle.

*Near Al Hawl, two strikes destroyed three VBIED facilities.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed seven ISIS oil trucks, four ISIS barges, an ISIS well head, a command and control node, and an ISIS headquarters.

*Near Palmyra, one strike [1 British?] engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

*Near Raqqah, nine strikes [1 British?] engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 55 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Bayji, four strikes [1 British] destroyed eight trenches, four ISIS fuel trucks, three tactical vehicles, three fuel tanks, and a storage container.

*Near Mosul, five strikes [1-2 British] engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 42 vehicles, nine VBIEDs, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, two mortar systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a tactical vehicle, an anti-air artillery system, a VBIED facility; damaged 10 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and a mortar unit.

*Near Samarra, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

*Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed a UAS launch site.

Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria from May 23-24 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, May 23, two strikes destroyed three command and control nodes.

*Near Raqqah, Syria, May 24, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, and a vehicle.

Thursday 25 May – a Reaper destroyed an armoured personnel carrier west of Raqqa, Typhoons bombed a radio station east of Palmyra, Tornados attacked five targets in Mosul, and a combined Tornado and Typhoon flight destroyed an armoured truck north-west of Bayji…Intelligence confirmed that Daesh were using a small radio relay station east of Palmyra to spread their propaganda. A pair of Typhoons attacked the site on Thursday 25 May and successfully put it out of action with Paveway IVs. Further north in Syria, a Reaper used a Hellfire missile to destroy an armoured personnel carrier near Tabqah, to the west of Raqqa. Two flights of Tornados patrolled over Mosul, where they conducted Paveway IV attacks on two medium machine-gun positions and three other Daesh-held buildings, whilst a mixed Tornado/Typhoon pair used a Brimstone missile to destroy an armoured truck some 30 miles north-west of Bayji.

Coalition removes ISIS leaders from battlefield

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Coalition airstrikes have removed senior ISIS military officials and planners from the battlefield.

The elimination of three senior foreign fighters represents a significant degradation of the ISIS planning and operational capability.

Mustafa Gunes, a Syria-based ISIS external operations facilitator from Turkey, was killed by a coalition airstrike near Mayadin, Syria, 27 April. He was identified as an ISIS recruiter in the central Turkish city of Konya. Gunes was linked to facilitating financial support for planning attacks outside Syria and Iraq against the West.

Abu Asim al-Jazaeri, an ISIS external operations planner and a Syria-based French-Algerian ISIS fighter, was killed by a Coalition airstrike near Mayadin, Syria, May 11. Al-Jazaeri was involved in training a new generation of ISIS youths, called the Cubs of the Caliphate, a high priority training program sanctioned by ISIS leadership.

Abu-Khattab al-Rawi, a senior ISIS military official, was killed during an operation near Al-Qaim in Iraq, 18 May. Al-Rawi was killed along with three other terrorists. Al-Rawi was an ISIS military official who operated in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province and provided direct support to ISIS leadership. Al-Rawi was responsible for coordinating UAV operations and procurement in Al Anbar Province in Iraq.

The deaths of these men eliminates senior foreign fighters, who had extensive experience and training, and degrades ISIS’s ability to plan and conduct attacks on civilian targets in Iraq and Syria, as well throughout the region and in the West.

The Coalition will continue to degrade, disrupt, and dismantle ISIS structure, as well as exert pressure on its senior leaders and associates across multiple networks throughout Iraq and Syria.