Op 2 juli zijn zes Belgische F-16’s veilig en wel op de vliegbasis van Florennes geland. Sinds oktober 2014 voerden zij missies uit tegen de terreurgroep Islamitische Staat (IS) in Irak van op een vliegbasis in Jordanië.Operation Desert Falcon zit er op.
De vlucht naar huis duurde zes uur. “Het voelt goed om weer thuis te zijn”, vertelt één van de piloten, die gezien de omstandigheden liever anoniem wil blijven. “De sfeer zat goed en iedereen is veilig en wel terug.”
Naast verkenningsopdrachten, voerden de F-16’s kinetische operaties uit boven Iraaks grondgebied. Over de opdrachten zelf wordt er met enige voorzichtigheid gesproken. “De dagdagelijkse opdrachten voerden we voornamelijk onder Belgen uit, maar af en toe hadden we ook de gelegenheid om met de andere coalitiepartners te werken”, vertelt de piloot. “De vluchten duurden ongeveer vijf uur en dit zowel overdag als ’s nachts. Die wissel voel je wel, maar er was voldoende rust om de baterijen op te laden.” De piloten werden goed op de hoogte gehouden van alle activiteiten van IS en de grijpende beelden op de sociale media ontbraken er niet aan. “Als je dat ziet dan weet je waarom je daar bent”, benadrukt een andere piloot.
Op 24 september besliste de ministerraad om zes F-16’s en een groep van 120 militairen in steun naar Jordanië te sturen.

July 1st 2015: Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq June 30. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five airstrikes using attack, bomber and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.
“The coalition continues to use air power responsibly,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, CJTF-OIR chief of staff. “Highly precise deliveries, detailed weaponeering, in-depth target development, collateral damage mitigation and maximized effects on Daesh, are characteristics of coalition airstrike operation in Iraq and Syria.”
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:
Syria
• Near Al Hasakah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
• Near Kobani, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, destroying an ISIL fighting position.
• Near Tal Abyad, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
Iraq
• Near Baghdadi, one airstrike struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
• Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike destroyed seven ISIL vehicles.
• Near Al Qaim, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
• Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL mortar systems and an ISIL weapons cache.
• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL vehicle.
• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building.
• Near Rawah, one airstrike had inconclusive results.
• Near Sinjar three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL sniper position, destroying an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL building.
• Near Waleed, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

June 30 2015: Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq June 29. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine airstrikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted nine airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Anti-Daesh fighters in northern Syria have proven to be a dependable and effective force,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “The coalition will continue to support them in a myriad of ways, including airstrikes.”

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

Syria

• Near Al Hasakah, seven airstrikes struck five ISIL tactical units, destroying four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL armored personnel carrier and an ISIL tank.

• Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL excavator.

• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

• Near Baghdadi, three airstrikes struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage, destroying two ISIL excavators.

• Near Fallujah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL tunnel system.

• Near Haditha, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL vehicles.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL mortar firing position, destroying an ISIL building.

• Near Waleed, one airstrike destroyed three ISIL armored personnel carriers.

On Monday [June 29th], a Reaper tracked another engineering vehicle in western Iraq, which was being used to open up a supply route for the terrorists. Although the ISIL operators attempted to hide their vehicle, the Reaper’s crew were able to manoeuvre their aircraft into a good position for an accurate attack which destroyed the bulldozer.

Mission Update – RDAF F-16 Operation Inherent Resolve

De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 23. juni fløjet 10 missioner og anvendt 17 bomber.

Af Værnsfælles ForsvarskommandoMissionerne, som de danske fly har deltaget i, har været offensive, og de danske fly har i den forløbne periode primært deltaget i missioner i Salah al Din, Ninawa og Al Anbar. Målene for bomberne har været fjendtlige våbenstillinger og materiel.

De danske fly har fløjet Close Air Support-missioner (CAS), hvor flyene er indsat direkte som luftstøtte til styrker på landjorden. Her vil flyene patruljere over et bestemt område, hvorefter de vil kunne blive indsat af koalitionen, når der er behov for støtte. Luftstøtten vil variere afhængig af, hvad der er behov for. Det kan både dreje sig om overvågningsopgaver og bombninger af mål.

Nederlandse F-16’s vlogen ongeveer 15 missies boven Irak. Hierbij zijn meerdere doelen van de terreurorganisatie ISIS gebombardeerd. Een overzicht van Defensie-operaties van 22 tot 29 juni.

June 29 2015: Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq June 28. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six airstrikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber and fighter aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Coalition airstrikes increase Daesh viscosity, as its capabilities are removed and its freedom of movement is impacted,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, CJTF-OIR chief of staff.

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

Syria

• Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL crane.

• Near Al Hasakah, one airstrike had inconclusive results.

• Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying eight ISIL boats, three ISIL vehicles, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL mortar system.

Iraq

• Near Bayji, two airstrikes [1 UK] struck an ISIL tactical unit and land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage, destroying an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Habbaniyah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL logistics compound and an ISIL staging area.

• Near Haditha, one airstrike struck an ISIL large tactical unit.

• Near Makhmur, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying an ISIL building and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying an ISIL building and an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Sinjar, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and three ISIL heavy machine guns, destroying four ISIL buildings.

• Near Tal Afar, five airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units, three ISIL bunkers and land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage, destroying two ISIL mortar firing positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL vehicle.