Friday 24 March – Tornados and Typhoons struck a tunnel entrance near Tall Afar, a mortar team north-west of Mosul, and nine Daesh targets inside Mosul…On Friday 24 March, a Typhoon flight, armed with Paveway IVs, targeted the entrance to a tunnel some six miles west of Tall Afar. Other coalition aircraft had successfully destroyed a neighbouring building used by the terrorists, but Daesh had also been spotted making use of the tunnel, most probably for ammunition or supply storage. A direct hit from a Paveway IV collapsed the tunnel entrance. The Typhoons then headed east to support operations in Mosul, where they attacked four Daesh-held buildings which the extremists were using to fire at Iraqi units. A second Typhoon pair were also active over the city. They provided similar assistance to Iraqi forces engaged in close combat, striking three terrorist positions with Paveway IVs. A flight of Tornados also patrolled over Mosul and the surrounding area, where they conducted a simultaneous strike on two Daesh strong-points inside the city. They then headed north-west to deal with a reported mortar team. The terrorists were spotted with a vehicle in rocky ground near the Tigris, and hit with a Paveway.

On Mar. 23, Coalition military forces conducted 35 strikes consisting of 89 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes consisting of 44 engagements against ISIS targets.

* Near Ar Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, five vehicles, three IEDS, two tunnels, and a VBIED; damaged five supply routes and a bridge; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes consisting of 45 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command and control node.

* Near Mosul, four strikes [2 British] engaged four ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 11 fighting positions, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, and an artillery system; damaged nine supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units and an ISIS mortar team.

* Near Rawah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed two ISIS-held buildings, a weapons storage facility, and an ISIS headquarters.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes engaged a vehicle staging area and destroyed a VBIED facility.

* Near Tal Afar, one strike engaged a VBIED staging area.

Thursday 23 March – Typhoons attacked one of the main routes out of west Mosul, to prevent the movement of truck-bombs, as well as a Daesh position inside the city…The large truck-bomb remains one of Daesh’s favoured weapons. The extremist group uses them in desperate circumstances in order to try and slow down Iraqi troops or keep liberated areas unsafe. To limit the movement of these indiscriminate weapons, two Typhoons conducted attacks with Paveway IVs on Thursday 23 March against one of the main roads leading out of western Mosul and a number of surrounding lesser routes. They also struck a Daesh position in western Mosul, where several surviving Daesh fighters were seen to fleeing to afterwards, allowing the Iraqi advance to continue.

On Mar. 22, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 76 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

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

* Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two tactical vehicles, a fighting position, and a heavy transport equipment piece; and damaged four supply routes.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 67 engagements coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq against ISIS targets.

* Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed a tactical vehicle and a bulldozer.

* Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five mortar systems.

* Near Mosul, five strikes [2 British?] engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 fighting positions, eight vehicles, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, two VBIEDs, a mortar system, and a tunnel, damaged three supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper team.

* Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an IED facility.

* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.

Wednesday 22 March – Typhoons provided close support to Iraqi troops in west Mosul, hitting three Daesh positions…

The RAF has continued to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh’s current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian causalities.

Royal Air Force Typhoons flew close air support missions over west Mosul on Wednesday 22 March, in support of Iraqi ground forces as they continued to engage Daesh terrorists in very close combat in the city’s streets. Our aircraft conducted a simultaneous attack with Paveway IV guided bombs on two terrorist positions. The expertise of both the aircrew and the Iraqi troops allowed the attack to be delivered despite Iraqi forces being only tens of metres from the Daesh fighters. A second attack then eliminated a further group of Daesh fighters, armed with light machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Opération Chammal

En Syrie, la situation n’a pas évolué cette semaine dans le secteur de Raqqah, tandis que, dans l’Ouest du pays, Daech est toujours sous pression des forces armées syriennes qui progressent le long de l’Euphrate.

En Irak, Daech poursuit sa logique d’attaques indirectes dans le but de détourner des unités irakiennes des combats de Mossoul. Cette semaine, l’organisation terroriste a réalisé plusieurs actions de harcèlements lancées depuis la région de Hawijah, et commis un attentat meurtrier dans Bagdad.

Dans la région de Mossoul, après la saisie de la prison de Badush et la fermeture du verrou occidental de Mossoul, les opérations de sécurisation se terminent. Les combattants de Daech restés dans la ville sont désormais isolés du reste du pays. Ils continuent de céder du terrain en dépit de conditions météorologiques qui gênent la progression au sol des forces irakiennes et les appuis de la coalition. Les affrontements se déroulent essentiellement dans la partie Sud de la vieille ville, où les FEDPOL et l’ICTS ont réussi à prendre pied. Des combats acharnés ont lieu pour le contrôle de cette zone, dont Daech a fait le cœur de sa résistance.

Activités de la force

Appui aérien au Levant

Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 32 sorties aériennes dont 23 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), 2 de contrôle aérien, et 7 de recueil de renseignement. 13 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français, dont 1 planifiée. Elles ont permis la destruction de 18 objectifs.

En Irak, onze frappes ont visé des objectifs dans la ville même Mossoul en appui des troupes irakiennes au sol. Elles ont toutes ciblé des positions défensives des combattants de Daech, installées dans des bâtiments. Deux autres frappes ont été réalisées dans la région de Hawijah pour neutraliser un groupe de combattants et des infrastructures logistiques.

Appui feu – TF Wagram

La fin des combats visant à encercler Mossoul marque un changement de rythme pour la Task Force (TF) Wagram, qui a été moins sollicitée cette semaine. Les 13 missions réalisées l’ont été en appui des opérations de la 9e division pour sécuriser la zone de Badush, dont 4 missions de neutralisation, et 9 missions d’appui éclairement et fumigène.