De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 19. maj fløjet 13 missioner og anvendt 16 bomber.

Missionerne, 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 og Ninawa provinserne. Målene for bomberne har været bygninger, fjendtlige styrker samt køretøjer.

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.

De danske fly har også gennemført Air Interdiction-missioner. Her gennemføres et specifikt angreb mod et på forhånd defineret mål, hvor flyene flyver direkte til målet, anvender bomber og flyver retur. I denne uge har målene for bomberne været kampstillinger.

På de missioner, hvor de danske F-16 ikke har anvendt våben, har de bidraget med overvågning og indhentning af efterretninger. På sådanne overvågningsmissioner er flyene dog altid klar til at anvende våben, hvis der er behov for det.

Siden første mission den 16. oktober 2014, har det danske bidrag i alt fløjet 356 missioner og anvendt 302 bomber. Alle de danske bomber er præcisionsstyrede, hvilket vil sige, at de styres mod deres mål ved hjælp af enten laser eller GPS.

F-16 gevechtsvliegtuigen vlogen ongeveer 15 missies boven Irak. Ze wierpen bijna 40 bommen op doelen van ISIS. Daaronder was ook de 500e sinds het begin van strijd tegen deze terreurorganisatie. Een overzicht van Defensie-operaties van 18 tot en met 25 mei.

May 26th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., May 25, and 8 a.m., May 26, local time. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven 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, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Coalition airstrikes struck multiple targets near Mosul, Iraq,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “The Coalition continues to shape this region for future offensive operations.”

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

Syria

• Near Al Hasakah, seven airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units, an ISIL natural gas production plant and an ISIL headquarters, destroying four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL mortar position.

Iraq

• Near Bayji, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL excavator.

• Near Fallujah, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying four ISIL homemade explosives resupply vehicles and an ISIL armored vehicle.

• Near Hit, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL resupply vehicle.

• Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL rocket firing position, destroying two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL building and an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL buildings and two ISIL heavy machine guns.

• Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL heavy machine gun, destroying two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL mortar position.

Separately, in northwest Syria on May 25, coalition military forces conducted an airstrike using remotely piloted aircraft against a network of veteran al Qaida operatives, sometimes called the “Khorasan Group,” who are plotting external attacks against the United States and our allies. The airstrike struck a tactical unit, destroying a vehicle.

Military leaders representing member states of a Combined Joint Task Force met to discuss the mission to dismantle and ultimately defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The multinational conference convened May 19-20 to discuss the way ahead in Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

“The conference enabled all the participating nations to share the latest information and exchange their views on the current situation,” said one of the Australian Defense Force attendees. “This common understanding is critical in advancing our mission to defeat Daesh.”

Military leaders from approximately 21 Nations attended the conference to discuss a number of strategies, concerns, and opportunities for the way forward in Iraq. The key leaders discussed the progress made against ISIL since the last coalition conference in mid-February, and also the future plans of action to enable Iraqi forces in regaining lost territory. The unanimous conclusion was that ISIL will eventually be defeated by the coalition, although there is much to be done along the way to this end state.

“Recent tactical-level setbacks will not dissuade the Coalition’s commitment to defeating Daesh across our operations area” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, CJTF-OIR chief of staff. “Positive steps and effects are occurring throughout the battlespace, which, in combination, are encouraging signs of the operational-level progress to date within the Campaign.”

Iraqi Security Forces have commenced offensive operations on multiple fronts in Iraq, with assistance from coalition partners in the form of aviation fires and reconnaissance, training of security force personnel, advisory teams, and new weapons and equipment. The Coalition expects to provide 2,000 additional anti-tank rockets to the Government of Iraq within the next week.

“A key part of the Coalition’s campaign plan is to build the military capacity of Iraqi forces in order to enable their government to conduct effective operations against Daesh and re-establish control over their borders and territory,” said an Australian Defense Force attendee.

Coalition forces have executed over 4,100 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since the beginning of the Campaign.

“The fight against Daesh is a global fight and needs global solutions,” said a senior coalition officer. “This coalition is an example of the global military response to this threat.”

The conference was used as a platform for key military leaders to brief planners from around the world about the state of their Nation’s support to the Coalition and the mission.

“This conference illustrates how a U.S. mission has grown to a combined joint coalition mission,” said a senior officer of the coalition.

Many coalition partner nations participate in the CJTF-OIR Building Partner Capacity (BPC) training mission. The positive progress made in training Iraqi and Kurdish Security Force personnel was discussed during the conference and the attendees agreed that BPC aided in strengthening Iraqi soldiers’ combat proficiency, leadership, and capability, though it was recognized there is always room for improvement.

Several coalition nations also contribute to the Advise and Assist mission, which forms partnerships with select ISF/KSF headquarters units using Coalition cross-functional teams from like headquarters elements. Coalition Advise and Assist teams have played a critical role in developing understanding on the battlefield and integrating the many facets of Coalition support, and have proved to be a catalyst for successful operations on the ground.

Conference attendees acknowledged (again) the complexities of the operating environment, but viewed the strategy going forward in Iraq as achievable. All believe that with Coalition support continuing to enable the Security Forces of Iraq, the defeat of ISIL will occur in time.

“We are working in close coordination with the Government of Iraq and their security forces, to develop supporting plans to their operations to overcome the setback in Ramadi,” said Lt. Gen. James Terry, CJTF-OIR commander. “These efforts remain an integral component of the wider Coalition Campaign to defeat Daesh.”

May 25th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., May 24, and 8 a.m., May 25, local time. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 airstrikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 25 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Kurdish fighters, supported by the Coalition, are forcing Daesh to cede territory in northern Syria at an increasing rate,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, CJTF-OIR Chief of Staff. “Coalition campaign activities in Syria are achieving effects on Daesh.”

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

Syria

• Near Al Hasakah, seven airstrikes struck two large and four small ISIL tactical units, destroying four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL excavator, an ISIL VBIED and an ISIL vehicle. There were no observed civilian casualties from the airstrikes. Kurdish fighters reported an ISIL VBIED detonation which resulted in an undetermined number of civilians injured in the area.

• Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and an ISIL tank.

• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL multiple rocket launcher vehicle.

Iraq

• Near Baghdadi, five airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying four ISIL structures, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL armored excavator, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL VBIED.

• Near Bayji, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL dump truck, an ISIL excavator and an ISIL tanker.

• Near Fallujah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery piece and an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Hit, one airstrike struck an ISIL VBIED facility.

• Near Mosul, nine airstrikes struck five ISIL tactical units and an ISIL staging area, destroying four ISIL heavy machine guns, three ISIL buildings, an ISIL armored vehicle, an ISIL excavator and an ISIL VBIED.

• Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying two ISIL buildings, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL rocket-propelled grenade.

• Near Tal Afar, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL vehicle, destroying two ISIL buildings, two ISIL heavy machine guns and two ISIL mortar systems.

Sunday 24 May saw a Reaper in the same area [Anbar province] destroy an ISIL armoured vehicle which was in close combat with Iraqi forces with a Hellfire and then provided surveillance support to four successful strikes by coalition aircraft on ISIL buildings and a bulldozer which had been packed with explosives for an attack on the Iraqi troops.