On Mar. 5, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 83 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets.

* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed a well head and an oil inlet manifold.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two vehicles; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed four tactical vehicles, four ISIS-held buildings, two well heads, two engineering equipment pieces and a tank.

* Near Manbij, two strikes destroyed a vehicle and an artillery system.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 72 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an improvised weapons factory.

* Near Mosul, six strikes [2-3 British] engaged six ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed 11 fighting positions, eight mortar systems, seven vehicles, four VBIEDs, three ISIS-held buildings, two medium machine guns, two command and control nodes, two roadblocks, a heavy machine gun, an artillery system, and an ISIS checkpoint; damaged 11 supply routes, eight vehicles, and two fuel tanker trucks; and suppressed 10 mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.

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

* Near Tal Afar, one strike [1 British?] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and an ISIS staging area; and destroyed two vehicles, a fighting position, and a cave entrance.

Sunday 5 March – Tornados destroyed a Daesh-held building and tunnel on the banks of the Tigris, while Typhoons hit two targets in Mosul, as well as a cave and fortified position near Tall Afar…On Sunday 5 March, a pair of Typhoons operated around Tall Afar. They used Paveway IVs to target successfully a cave where terrorists had set up base, together with a near-by fortified position. A second pair of Typhoons maintained close air support over western Mosul, where they bombed first a Daesh strong-point and then a checkpoint that had been established in a large building on the outskirts to control a route out of the city. 20 miles north-west of Mosul, another Daesh location had been detected, with terrorists occupying a building on the banks of the Tigris. Tornados struck the building, and then used a further Paveway IV to collapse a tunnel that had been dug close by.

On Mar. 4, Coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes consisting of 57 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

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

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed a weapons storage facility.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged an ISIS staging area and damaged a supply route.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed five oil well heads and an oil inlet manifold.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 49 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Mosul, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and a rocket-propelled grenade team; destroyed nine fighting positions, a heavy machine gun, an ISIS-held building, and a mortar system; damaged 26 supply routes; and suppressed 15 mortar teams.

* Near Rawah, two strikes destroyed a fuel storage tank and an ISIS-held building.

On Mar. 3, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 69 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

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

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed a gas oil separation plant.

* Near Ar Raqqah, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, a VBIED factory, and a VBIED staging area.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike damaged a bridge.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of 62 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an improvised weapons factory.

* Near Mosul, three strikes [2 British] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and an ISIS staging area; destroyed 21 mortar systems, 13 fighting positions, five heavy machine guns, four medium machine guns, and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged five supply routes.

Friday 3 March – Typhoons and Tornados struck seven Daesh targets in western Mosul…Tornados experienced similarly difficult cloud conditions on Friday 3 March, when they struck four Daesh-held buildings in western Mosul. The Iraqi ground forces reported that all four targets had been safely destroyed, with at least one heavy machine-gun also put out of action. Typhoons also engaged a further three targets in the city, striking a road junction to prevent Daesh moving supplies and truck-bombs along the route, and eliminating sniper and light machine-gun teams.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve

Monthly Civilian Casualty Report

SOUTHWEST ASIA- During the month of January 2017, CJTF-OIR carried over 10 open reports of possible civilian casualties from previous months, received 27 new reports, and completed the assessment on 19 reports resulting from Coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria in the fight to defeat ISIS. Ten of these reports were assessed to be non-credible and nine were assessed to be credible. A total of 19 reports are still open and being assessed at the end of the month. Coalition strikes are defined as ground artillery or air strikes conducted as part of the Coalition Air Tasking Order.

CJTF-OIR takes all reports of civilian casualties seriously and assesses all reports as thoroughly as possible. Although we are unable to investigate all reports of possible civilian casualties using traditional investigative methods, such as by interviewing witnesses and examining the site, the Coalition interviews pilots and other personnel involved in the targeting process, reviews strike and surveillance video if available, and analyzes information provided by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, partner forces and traditional and social media. In addition, the Coalition considers new information when it becomes available in order to promote a thorough and continuous review process.

After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following 10 reports are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient information available to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.

1. Nov. 2, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

2. Nov. 19, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, via media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

3. Dec. 22, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, via media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in the strikes conducted in this area on that day.

4. Dec. 30, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

5. Dec. 30, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in the strikes conducted in this area on that day.

6. Jan. 3, 2017, Sarmada, Syria, via social media report: The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details of strike to assess its credibility.

7. Jan. 10, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

8. Jan. 10, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video there was insufficient information to assess that any civilians were harmed in this strike.

9. Jan. 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

10. Jan. 17, 2017 near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Although the Coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimizes the risk of civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable. Nine reports were assessed to be credible resulting in the unintended death of 21 and injury to two civilians.

A credible assessment means it is more likely than not a Coalition strike resulted in a civilian casualty. In each of the incidents below, the investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the Law of Armed Conflict, unintended civilian casualties unfortunately occurred.

1. Nov. 14, 2016, near Tal Afar, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS checkpoint it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when the vehicle he was driving approached the checkpoint just prior to the munition’s impact.

2. Nov. 27, 2016, near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS oil tanker trucks it was assessed that three civilians were killed. After warning shots were fired to dislodge drivers from the vehicles a number of the trucks scattered. Three of the trucks were subsequently engaged, destroyed, and their drivers presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.

3. Dec. 11, 2016, near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS oil tanker trucks it is assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed. After warning shots were fired truck drivers vacated their vehicles and moved a safe distance away. Aircraft engaged targets and following munition release five of the drivers returned to their vehicles and were killed by munition’s impact.

4. Jan. 4, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a house it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured in the house.

5. Jan. 4, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a moving vehicle it was assessed that one civilian pedestrian was unintentionally killed near when the vehicle was struck.

6. Jan. 7, 2017, near As Sawa, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS oil tanker trucks it is assessed that two civilians were killed. After warning shots were fired to dislodge drivers from the vehicles a number of the trucks scattered. Two of the trucks were subsequently engaged, destroyed, and their drivers presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.

7. Jan. 7, 2017, near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS oil tanker trucks it is assessed that one civilian driver was unintentionally killed. After warning shots were fired to dislodge drivers from the vehicles, aircraft engaged the targets. After munitions’ impact a driver exited a vehicle and attempted to flee when he was killed by a secondary explosion from one of the oil tanker trucks.

8. Jan. 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a house it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed. During post-strike video analysis civilians were identified near the house who were not evident prior to the strike.

9. Jan. 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a counter-fire strike on an ISIS mortar team it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when he entered the target area after weapon was fired.

Currently, 19 reports of civilian casualties are still being assessed:

1. Sept. 20, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report.

2. Sept. 17, 2016, near Al Tabqah, Syria, via self-report.

3. Dec. 20, 2016, near Al Tabqah, Syria, via media report.

4. Dec. 29, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report:

5. Jan. 2, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

6. Jan. 2, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

7. Jan. 6, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

8. Jan. 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

9. Jan. 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report.

10. Jan. 16, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report.

11. Jan. 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

12. Jan. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

13. Jan. 22, 2017, near Al-Tabqah, Syria, via social media report.

14. Jan. 22, 2017, near Nayrab, Syria, via social media report.

15. Jan. 25, 2017, near Abu Jadi, Syria, via social media report.

16. Jan 26, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

17. Jan. 30, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report.

18. Jan. 31, 2017, near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report.

19. Jan. 31, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.

The Coalition is in the process of conducting an audit of its civilian casualty report tracking and reporting from August 2014 to the present. The intent is always to be as thorough as possible in our investigations and as accurate and forthcoming as possible in our reporting.

To date, based on information available, CJTF-OIR assesses that, it is more likely than not, at least 220 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition strikes since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve. We regret the unintentional loss of civilian lives resulting from Coalition efforts to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria and express our deepest sympathies to the families and others affected by these strikes.

On Mar. 2, Coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes consisting of 78 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of four engagements against ISIS targets.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed a weapons storage facility.

* Near Palmyra, one strike damaged a bridge.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes consisting of 74 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIS storage facility.

* Near Haditha, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

* Near Mosul, two strikes [1 British] engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, four heavy machine guns, three medium machine guns, two tunnels, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a VBIED, and a VBIED facility; damaged seven supply routes; and suppressed 22 mortar teams.

* Near Rawah, 10 strikes engaged an ISIS staging area and destroyed nine ISIS-held buildings.

Thursday 2 March – Typhoons hit a machine-gun position in western Mosul…Typhoons had to deal with heavy cloud over Mosul on Thursday 2 March, with the challenging weather conditions denying them clear sight of the target when an Iraqi unit came under machine-gun fire from a Daesh strong-point at short range. Despite these conditions, very careful coordination with the Iraqi troops allowed the Typhoons to hit the Daesh position accurately with a Paveway IV, without endangering friendly forces. The Iraqi unit reported that the machine-gun had been silenced and the threat to them eliminated.

On Mar. 1, Coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 67 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

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

* Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes destroyed an ISIS training camp, an ISIS-held building, a weapons storage facility; and a VBIED factory.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed a well head and a pump jack.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 62 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Mosul, four strikes [2 British] engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 19 fighting positions, four supply caches, four mortar systems, four VBIEDs, three tunnels, two recoilless rifles, two VBIED factories, an ISIS-held building, a command and control node; and a barge; damaged 10 supply routes and two tunnels; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.

* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed a tactical vehicle.

Wednesday 1 March – Tornados and a Reaper struck five Daesh targets in western Mosul, including a truck-bomb factory…A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft assisted Iraqi troops in western Mosul on Wednesday 1 March, using a Hellfire missile and a GBU-12 guided bomb to eliminate Daesh fighters, including a sniper, engaged at close quarters with the Iraqis. The Reaper also used its surveillance sensors to check that a target area was clear of civilians before a coalition air strike. Two flights of Tornados armed with Paveway IVs also operated over western Mosul that day. The first pair destroyed a strong-point held by terrorists armed with light machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, while the second pair dealt with a sniper before demolishing two buildings that were part of a factory producing truck-bombs.

CHAMMAL

APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION

Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017

En Syrie, à Al Bab, les forces d’opposition soutenues par la Turquie ont pu saisir la ville après le retrait de Daech de la ville. En périphérie, les forces armées syriennes et les FDS tentent d’accentuer ce repli progressif des combattants de Daech vers l’Est. Si ce repli dessine un renforcement probable de Raqqah par les combattants exfiltrés, la menace d’actions asymétriques reste présente.

En Irak, Daech poursuit ses actions de harcèlement, notamment dans l’Anbar, par l’intermédiaire d’embuscades, de tirs de mortiers ou d’attaques par drones.

Dans la région de Mossoul, l’encerclement progressif de l’agglomération perturbe le ravitaillement de Daech même si l’étendue de la zone ne permet pas de garantir l’étanchéité du dispositif.

Dans la partie occidentale de la ville, le recul de Daech se poursuit. Près du Tigre, après la reprise de l’aéroport, les forces de police fédérale et l’ICTS continuent leur progression coordonnée vers le nord. Dans la périphérie ouest de Mossoul, les forces irakiennes avancent vers la prison de Badush et la crête d’Astanah. La résistance se durcit à mesure que le cercle se resserre et que les forces irakiennes s’approchent des zones urbanisées. A l’Est de la ville, Daech maintient ses actions de harcèlement par tirs indirects.

ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL

Appui aérien au Levant

Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017

Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 32 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), et 2 de recueil de renseignement. 11 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français, elles ont permis la destruction de 19 objectifs.

En Irak, les 6 frappes se sont concentrées dans la région de Mossoul. Elles s’inscrivent dans le cadre de l’appui des troupes irakiennes engagées dans l’offensive visant à reprendre la partie ouest de Mossoul. Elles ont ciblé des positions de mortier, des groupes de combattants, un dépôt logistique ainsi qu’un centre de commandement.

En Syrie, 2 missions d’appui des troupes au sol ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah et de Der Er Zawr contre des pièces d’artillerie, un véhicule suicide, blindé, chargé d’engin explosif (SVBIED). L’intervention d’une patrouille de Rafale, après détection et guidage de l’ATL2, a par ailleurs permis la destruction de 2 puits de pétrole clandestins dans le sud-est de Raqqah.

Dans la région de Palmyre, 2 frappes planifiées ont été réalisées et ont permis la neutralisation d’un site de stockage de matériel militaire et d’un site de fabrication de véhicules piégés (VBIED).

Appui feu – TF Wagram

Cette semaine, le détachement de la Task Force (TF) Wagram déployé au nord de Mossoul a fourni un appui important aux troupes engagées au sol, avec un effort marqué à l’ouest de la ville.

Les 28 missions réalisées comprennent 21 de neutralisation, destruction ou harcèlement contre des positions de combattants, des pièces de mortier ou contre des tentatives d’infiltrations en bordure du Tigre.

7 missions d’éclairement ont également été effectuées pour interdire l’utilisation du terrain par Daech.

La reprise de l’offensive sur Mossoul-Ouest a marqué un tournant dans la physionomie de l’activité de la TF. Au cours des 3 dernières semaines, l’intensification des missions confiées à la TF et la proportion croissante de missions de neutralisation ou de destruction sont significatives. Cette évolution de l’activité est couplée aux progressions sur le terrain des forces de sécurité irakiennes, elle souligne l’importance et l’efficacité des appuis fournis par la partie française.

On Feb. 28, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 86 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 15 engagements against ISIS targets.

* Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed six watercraft, an ISIS training camp, and an ISIS maintenance facility.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes destroyed seven oil refinement stills, four well heads, a pump jack and a crane and damaged a bridge.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 71 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Al Qaim, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a tactical vehicle.

* Near Bayji, one strike [1 British?] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four bunkers, a weapons cache and a VBIED.

* Near Mosul, five strikes [1 British?] engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine mortar systems, six fighting positions, five VBIED facilities, three supply caches, three ISIS-held buildings, three VBIEDs, and an improvised weapons factory; damaged six supply routes; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a weapons cache and a recoilless rifle.