On Aug. 19, Coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes consisting of 24 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

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

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed 10 ISIS oil storage barrels.

*Near Raqqah, five strikes [1 British?] engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 18 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIS supply cache.

*Near Bayji, one strike [1 British] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

*Near Rawah, three strikes destroyed two ISIS headquarters, a weapons cache, and a staging area.

*Near Tal Afar, four strikes [1 Aus] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed seven rocket systems, two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a VBIED factory, a supply cache, and a front-end loader.

Additionally, 26 strikes consisting of 38 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 17-18 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*On Aug. 17, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a fighting position.

*On Aug. 18, near Raqqah, Syria, 20 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units, destroyed 14 fighting positions, and damaged a tunnel entrance.

*On Aug. 18, near Tal Afar, Iraq, three strikes destroyed 24 ISIS roadblocks, two VBIED factories, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS command and control node, and a fighting position, and suppressed three mortar teams.

On 19 Aug, Australian F/A-18 Hornets supported Iraqi forces during operations in the vicinity of Tal Afar. The Australian aircraft struck a Daesh weapons cache with guided munitions.

Saturday 19 August – Typhoons bombed a truck on the move near Bayji, while Tornados attacked a terrorist position in Raqqa…A Typhoon flight faced a challenging target on Saturday 19 August – a fast-moving truck carrying a group of terrorists across the desert in Iraq, west of Bayji. Despite the vehicle’s speed, a Paveway IV was guided accurately onto the target, destroying it. Tornados continued to provide close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces in Raqqa, destroying a terrorist strongpoint.

ISF begin offensive to liberate Tal Afar

SOUTHWEST ASIA – “The Global Coalition against ISIS welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi’s statement earlier this morning announcing the launch of the offensive to liberate Tal Afar and the remainder of Ninewah province and northern Iraq from the clutches of Da’esh” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

All branches of the Iraqi Security Forces will take part in the liberation of Tal Afar – the 9th, 15th and 16th Iraqi Army Divisions, the Counter Terrorism Service, the Federal Police and Emergency Response Division, Iraqi Local Police as well as Popular Mobilization Forces under the command of Prime Minister al-Abadi.

Following their historic victory in Mosul, the ISF have proven themselves a capable, formidable, and increasingly professional force, and they are well prepared to deliver another defeat to ISIS in Tal Afar.

The Coalition will continue to help the Government and Security Forces to liberate the Iraqi people and defeat ISIS through five means – by providing equipment, training, intelligence, precision fires and combat advice.

“Mosul was a decisive victory for the Iraqi Security Forces, but it did not mark the end of ISIS in Iraq, or its worldwide threat. The ISF’s operation to liberate Tal Afar is another important fight that must be won to ensure the country and its citizens are finally free of ISIS,” said Townsend. “The Coalition is strong, and fully committed to supporting our Iraqi partners until ISIS is defeated and the Iraqi people are free.”

The Coalition estimates that approximately 10,000-50,000 civilians remain in and around Tal Afar. The Coalition applies rigorous standards to its targeting process and takes extraordinary efforts to protect non-combatants. In accordance with the laws of armed conflict and in support of its partnered forces who are risking their lives every day in the fight against an evil enemy, the

Coalition will continue to strike valid military targets, after considering the principles of military necessity, humanity, proportionality, and distinction.

On Aug. 18, Coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 38 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 24 strikes consisting of 27 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Al Shadaddi, one strike destroyed a fighting position and an IED factory.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed seven ISIS oil stills, seven pieces of oil equipment, and five oil barrels, and damaged three bridges.

*Near Raqqah, 19 strikes [1 British?] engaged 17 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 20 fighting positions, an anti-air artillery system, and a command and control node.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets.

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

*Near Tal Afar, three strikes destroyed 24 vehicles, two tunnels, two weapons caches, two front-end loaders, a command and control node, a staging area, an explosives factory, an explosives cache, and a fighting position, and damaged three bridges and two supply routes.

Additionally, 28 strikes consisting of 34 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 16-17 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*On Aug. 16, near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two command and control nodes and a mortar system.

*On Aug. 17, near Raqqah, Syria, 19 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 13 fighting positions, four command and control nodes, two IEDs, and a heavy machine gun.

*On Aug. 17, near Kisik, Iraq, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a mortar system, damaged 17 supply routes, and suppressed two mortar teams.

*On Aug. 17, near Tal Afar, Iraq, two strikes suppressed an ISIS tactical unit and damaged a tunnel.

Friday 18 August – Tornados destroyed a booby-trapped building in eastern Syria, Typhoons and Tornados dealt with a sniper team in Raqqa…On Friday 18 August, Tornados were tasked with the destruction of a heavily booby-trapped building discovered in eastern Syria, south of Al Hasakah, which was too dangerous to approach. The building was destroyed with a Paveway which safely detonated the concealed explosives. Over Raqqa, a mixed pair of aircraft silenced a sniper firing on the Syrian Democratic Forces.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL

SITUATION

En Syrie,

A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech.

En Irak,

Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville.

ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE

Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech.

Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville.

La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes.

Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties.

On Aug. 17, Coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes consisting of 40 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes consisting of 24 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three ISIS oil stills, two pieces of oil equipment and a weapons cache.

*Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS media center.

*Near Raqqah, 18 strikes [1 British] engaged 12 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions, three ISIS communication lines and two logistics nodes.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 16 engagements against ISIS targets.

*Near Bayji, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two vehicles, a supply cache, and a staging area.

*Near Tal Afar, four strikes [1 British] engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a front-end loader, an ISIS-held building, and a mortar system; and suppressed a mortar team.

Additionally, 33 strikes consisting of 47 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 15-16 that closed within the last 24 hours.

*On Aug. 15, near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions and a mortar system.

*On Aug. 16, near Abu Kamal, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS media center.

*On Aug. 16, near Al Shadaddi, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command and control node, a fighting position and an ISIS communication line.

*On Aug. 16, near Raqqah, Syria, 23 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 18 fighting positions, eight command and control nodes, two tunnels, two heavy machine guns, an ISIS UAS, an anti-aircraft artillery system and an ISIS line of communication.

*On Aug. 16, near Tal Afar, Iraq, three strikes destroyed 32 IEDs, 17 ISIS fighting positions, two tunnels, and an artillery system and damaged three bridges.

Thursday 17 August – Tornados and Typhoons attacked a mortar near Tall Afar, and two machine-gun teams and a sniper in Raqqa…With the Iraqi forces advancing on Tal Afar, a mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair provided close air support on Thursday 17 August. A coalition surveillance aircraft spotted a terrorist mortar, and was able to guide our aircraft into a successful attack with a Paveway IV. A second mixed pair maintained operations over Raqqa, and used Paveways to destroy one sniper and two machine-gun teams.