De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 7. april fløjet 11 missioner og anvendt fire 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 ad Din og Al Anbar. Målene for bomberne har været bygninger.

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.

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.

I sidste uges mission update havde der desværre indsneget sig en beklagelig fejl. Det korrekte antal missioner fløjet var således 10 og ikke 11 som angivet. Det betyder at det samlede antal missioner i sidste uge var 273.

Siden første mission den 16. oktober 2014, har det danske bidrag i alt fløjet 284 missioner og anvendt 217 bomber. Alle de danske bomber er præcisionsstyrede, hvilket vil sige, at de styres mod deres mål ved hjælp af enten laser eller GPS.

April 14th 2015 – The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve is providing support to Government of Iraq operations as Iraqi Security Forces continue to push back ISIL in the Anbar and Salah ad Din Provinces of Iraq.

“We are supporting Iraqi Security Forces throughout the country,” said the CJTF-OIR Commanding General Lt. Gen. James Terry. “Our support in Bayji, Ramadi and Karmah highlight our commitment towards enabling our Iraqi partners in their fight against Daesh and in helping restore security throughout Iraq.”

In the Anbar Province, the Coalition continues to provide reconnaissance, airstrikes, and Advise and Assist support as the Iraqi government’s Anbar Operations Command coordinates clearing operations in northern Ramadi.

East of Ramadi, the Iraqi government’s Baghdad Operations Command is conducting ongoing operations to clear areas north of Fallujah, ultimately aimed at expelling ISIL from the area.

CJTF-OIR enables this effort through coordinated aviation, adviser elements, and combined planning.

North of Baghdad, ISFs continue to defend the Bayji Oil Refinery. Coalition airstrikes support their efforts by destroying ISIL buildings, excavators, tactical units, vehicles and weapons. The Coalition will continue to support ISF operations in the Bayji area, until the GoI’s objectives are achieved.

ISFs operations demonstrate their increasing capacity to not only repel but defeat ISIL’s localized, harassing attacks which are designed to inflate the group’s online propaganda. These operations will continue to develop momentum for the GoI, and will further the ISFs ability to remove ISIL fighters and military capabilities from the battlefield.

On Monday 13 April, an armed reconnaissance patrol of Tornado GR4s provided air support to an Iraqi military operation, clearing terrorists from positions to the north of Ramadi.

Another coalition aircraft successfully pinpointed a building from which terrorists were firing on the advancing Iraqi troops, and the RAF aircraft conducted a successful attack with a Paveway IV precision guided bomb.

April 14th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., April 13, and 8 a.m., April 14, local time. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three airstrikes, using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using fighter, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Yesterday, coalition strike and reconnaissance assets directly supported Iraqi Security Force’s operations in Bayji with seven dynamic airstrikes,” said, CJTF-OIR Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley. “The ISF, enabled by the coalition, continues to deny ISIL small unit attacks and maintained their positions within the Bayji Oil Refinery.”

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

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, seven airstrikes [some British] struck one large and two smaller tactical units, two ISIL excavators, destroyed 11 ISIL buildings, four ISIL vehicles, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL warehouse, an ISIL VBIED and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Fallujah, three airstrikes destroyed two ISIL bridges and an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Mosul, an airstrike struck an ISIL headquarters.

* Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL buildings, and an ISIL rocket-propelled grenadier.

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

April 13th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., April 12, and 8 a.m., April 13, local time. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three airstrikes, using bomber and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 14 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using fighter, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“These strikes on Daesh formations near Bayji reduce their numbers and limit their ability to conduct operations,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR Spokesman. “Coalition strikes continue to degrade Daesh’s capabilities across Iraq and Syria. We will continue to support the ISF and the Government of Iraq against this threat.”

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

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Bayji, six airstrikes [some British?] struck six ISIL tactical units, destroyed an ISIL VBIED, an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Ramadi, four airstrikes destroyed seven ISIL buildings, an ISIL checkpoint and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and two ISIL heavy machine guns.

13 April: GR4s once again provide close air support for Iraqi ground forces, on this occasion in and around Bayji. Patrolling ahead of the Iraqi troops,RAF aircraft successfully attacked four buildings within an ISIL military compound with Paveway IVs.

April 12th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., April 11, and 8 a.m., April 12, local time. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three airstrikes, using bomber and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 10 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using fighter, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“Deliberate strikes in Mosul continue to degrade Daesh and set the conditions for future operations,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, CJTF-OIR Chief of Staff. “The Coalition will continue to apply pressure on Daesh elements throughout all of Iraq as we make steady progress in degrading and dismantling Daesh’s military capabilities in support of the Government of Iraq.”

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

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, four airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL large and small tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL excavators, two ISIL armored vehicles, an ISIL tank and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, four airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL storage facility and an ISIL weapons storage facility.

* Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck an ISIL large tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL large tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building.

11 April: Another GR4 mission provided support for Iraqi troops in Anbar province and identified a factory being used by ISIL to manufacture vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. The GR4s conducted attacks on four targets within the factory, again using Paveway IVs.