Last night [November 13th 2014] a Royal Air Force (RAF) Reaper remotely piloted air system was involved in a coalition air strike in the Kirkuk region. The Reaper had been tasked to conduct reconnaissance in an area where Iraqi forces had encountered ISIL fighters.

The operators were able to use the Reaper’s advanced systems to identify a number of ISIL positions, enabling another Coalition aircraft to attack a command post, bunker, observation post and two armed pick-up trucks. They then identified a further 3 positions, and, having carefully checked the area, conducted attacks using the Reaper’s own Hellfire missiles. Initial analysis indicates that the attacks were successful.

On Thursday evening, Kurdish peshmerga reported coming under fire from a dug-in machine-gun position. An RAF Reaper remotely piloted air system succeeded in locating the ISIL position, and attacked it with a Hellfire missile. The crew operating the Reaper then identified further ISIL positions, allowing another coalition aircraft to conduct an attack.

Before the end of its patrol, the Reaper crew used another Hellfire to engage an ISIL checkpoint set up to control a road.

Elsewhere in Iraq, another Reaper, investigating reported ISIL activity in response to advancing Iraqi forces, identified terrorists boarding a truck. Despite the vehicle moving off at high speed, the Reaper crew were able to hit it with a Hellfire.

Le 14 novembre 2014, la force Chammal a porté trois nouvelles frappes contre des positions de Daech depuis lesquelles ces terroristes menaient des actions offensives contre les forces de sécurité irakiennes dans le nord du pays.

Dans la matinée, alors qu’elle était en mission de reconnaissance armée, une patrouille de deux Rafale a été orientée par le centre opérationnel aérien (CAOC) sur une mission d’opportunité dans la région de Kirkouk, entre Bagdad et Mossoul. Il s’agissait de détruire des positions de combat depuis lesquelles des terroristes du groupe autoproclamé Daech ouvraient le feu sur les forces de sécurité irakiennes.

Au cours de cette mission, la patrouille a délivré plusieurs bombes guidées laser (GBU12) sur des positions de Daech. L’action des avions français a ainsi permis la destruction d’un bunker abritant des combattants terroristes, du matériel servant à la fortification de leur poste, ainsi qu’un second poste de combat.

November 12th 2014: U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Nov. 10-12 using bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct sixteen airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted seven airstrikes in Iraq Nov. 10-12 using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, ten airstrikes conducted near Kobani struck eight small ISIL units, damaged three ISIL fighting positions and destroyed an ISIL logistics facility.

There were two airstrikes south of Al-Haskah damaging a crude oil collection point operated by ISIL.

Three airstrikes northeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL crude oil collection facility.

Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck a small ISIL unit and damaged an ISIL vehicle.

In Iraq, two airstrikes near Kirkuk struck a small ISIL unit and a large ISIL unit.

Five airstrikes near Bayji struck three small ISIL units, one large ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL sniper position, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL mortar tube and an ISIL artillery piece [1 Canadian].

Briefing from Colonel Daniel Constable, Commander Joint Task Force: “On November 11th, CF-188s engaged ISIL along the northern ISIL supply line that I spoke to earlier, near the town of Baiji, some 200 kilometres northwest of Baghdad. As you can see in the video provided on the Canadian Armed Forces website, an ISIL artillery piece was destroyed using a laser-guided munition. Baiji is an area where the Iraqi security forces are battling ISIL.

This strike was part of a greater coalition effort and in this particular area the strike on the artillery piece was a continuation of other engagements against ISIL. This artillery piece was initially spotted in a tree line from where it had been firing at Iraqi forces.”