On Dec. 31, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 24 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, fighter-attack, and bomber aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Iraq

* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility and destroyed two ISIL buildings.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL command and control node, seven ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL trench, and an ISIL VBIED.
* Near Ramadi, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL VBIED facility, five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, three strikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed two ISIL heavy machine gun positions.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed three ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL command and control node, and six ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Tal Afar, 11 strikes destroyed nine ISIL bunkers, five ISIL-used culverts, and four ISIL-used bridges.

Dans la nuit du 31 décembre 2015 au 01 janvier 2016, les Mirage 2000 déployés sur la Base aérienne projetée (BAP) en Jordanie ont effectué une frappe sur les zones contrôlées par Daech en Syrie.

La frappe visait des installations de l’industrie pétrolière située en Syrie dans la région de Raqqah. Réalisée en coordination avec la coalition, elle a été menée sur la base des renseignements collectés ces dernières semaines lors des vols de reconnaissance. L’objectif recherché par la destruction de ce type d’installation est d’affaiblir les capacités de financement de Daech en perturbant l’exploitation des ressources pétrolières dans les zones sous son contrôle.

Les appareils engagés dans cette mission (2Mirage 2000 D) ont débuté leur mission à 22h00, heure française. Les deux objectifs ciblés ont été détruits. Ce raid n’a pas nécessité de ravitaillement en vol.

On Dec. 30, Coalition military forces conducted 28 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes using attack, bomber, and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, rotary, and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

Syria

* Near Ar Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged 14 ISIL tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, three oil storage tanks, a VBIED, and an oil well head; damaged two supply routes; and suppressed a tactical unit.

* Near At Tanf, four strikes destroyed two VBIEDs.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed an ISIL-held building.

* Near Haditha, one strike damaged a fighting position.

* Near Mosul, four strikes [1 British] engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, three mortar systems, three ISIL-held buildings, a vehicle, a crane, a weapons factory, a VBIED, and a mortar position; damaged 12 supply routes; and suppressed four mortar positions.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL weapons storage facility.

Friday 30 December – A Reaper engaged two groups of terrorists engaged in combat with Iraqi forces inside Mosul…A Reaper continued patrols over eastern Mosul on Friday 30 December. It provided targeting assistance to coalition air attacks on a Daesh-held compound and a group of extremists, and used its Hellfire missiles to intervene with great precision in two actions where Iraqi troops were engaged in close combat with terrorist fighters.

On Dec. 29, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, rotary, and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

Syria

. Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three oil well heads and a oil tanker truck.
. Near Al Shadaddi, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.
. Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a command and control node, a weapons cache, and a fighting position.
. Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.
. Near Palmyra, three strikes [1 British] destroyed three ISIL-held artillery systems, a crane, a heavy machine gun, and a tank.

Iraq

. Near Al Huwayjah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building.
. Near Al Qaim, three strikes destroyed a VBIED facility, an IED factory, and an ISIL-held building.
. Near Mosul four strikes [3-4 British] engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed 11 ISIL-held buildings, five supply caches, three tactical vehicles, two mortar systems, two fighting positions, two VBIEDs, a tunnel, an observation post, a research lab, a command and control node, an up-armored VBIED, two barges, and two artillery pieces; suppressed five mortar teams; and damaged 20 supply routes and two repeater towers.

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Today, with Coalition air and artillery support, the Iraqi Security Forces announced that several elements of the Iraqi Army, Federal Police and Counter Terrorism Service initiated a simultaneous advance along three axes in Mosul to defeat ISIL.

On the north axis, units of the 16th Division of the Iraqi Army advanced south to clear additional neighborhoods as they take new ground. On the east axis, Counter Terrorism Service units pushed west and south along two fronts. On the south axis, units of the Federal Police began clearing neighborhoods to the North.

The Iraqi multi-axis advance opens two new fronts within the city and increases pressure on ISIL’s dwindling ability to generate forces, move fighters or resupply. Since the start of the Mosul operation on Oct. 17, the Coalition has struck ISIL with more than 7,650 munitions in support of the Iraqi Security Forces. Additionally, at the request of the government of Iraq, the Coalition re-struck Mosul Bridges #4 and #5 Tuesday, and disabled Bridge #1 Monday, the last bridge crossing the Tigris River inside Mosul. The strikes were conducted to reduce enemy freedom of movement, and to further disrupt ISIL’s ability to reinforce, resupply, or use vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in East Mosul.

Coalition forces provide operational advice and assistance to Iraqi units along with intelligence, logistics, artillery and air support to the Iraqi Security Forces in a partnership to defeat ISIL in Iraq. Support is being provided in response to requests by the government of Iraq and in a deliberate and consultative manner to avoid unnecessary casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.

SOUTHWEST ASIA- During operations to liberate Mosul on Dec. 29, a Coalition air strike struck a van carrying ISIL fighters observed firing a SPG9/RPG recoilless rifle before loading the weapon in the van and driving off. The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties.

CJTF-OIR takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and this incident will be fully investigated and the findings released in a timely and transparent manner.

CJTF-OIR releases monthly reports covering our tracking and investigation of allegations of civilian casualties. Coalition forces comply with the Law of Armed Conflict, work diligently to be precise in our airstrikes, and take all feasible precautions during the planning and execution of airstrikes to reduce the risk of harm to civilians.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL: APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION

Au Levant, Daech continue d’être sous la pression des forces locales appuyées par la coalition mais l’organisation terroriste conserve combativité dans ses modes d’action et résilience dans le soutien logistique de ses combattants. En Irak, les mauvaises conditions météorologiques ont contraint les forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) à baisser le tempo de leurs opérations de reconquête. En particulier, dans la région de Mossoul où elles ne pouvaient plus bénéficier d’un appui permanent de la coalition. Daech a mis cette période à profit pour harceler les forces irakiennes sur la ligne de front et mener des actions à fort retentissement médiatique dans la profondeur. Dans le but de contraindre les FSI à desserrer l’étau autour de Mossoul, l’organisation a mené plusieurs attaques dans la vallée de l’Anbar dans le secteur des trois frontières. En Syrie, l’organisation terroriste est également sous la pression des forces locales face à laquelle elle oppose une vive résistance à l’approche de ses zones sanctuaires. Elle a multiplié les attaques et les tirs indirects pour la défense de la ville d’Al-Bab, à proximité de la frontière turque, empêchant toute progression des unités engagées au sol. En revanche, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont poursuivi leur progression dans la région de Raqqah en s’emparant de zones le long du Tigre en direction de la ville de Tabqah. Les mauvaises conditions météorologiques ont encore perturbé les opérations au sol cette semaine. Les FSI ont tiré profit de cette prolongation de la pause opérationnelle pour sécuriser les quartiers conquis récemment. Daech a poursuivi ses actions de harcèlement sur la ligne de front (snipers, tirs de mortier,…) et mené des actions sur les arrières. Le 22 décembre, l’organisation terroriste ainsi a perpétré un attentat dans le quartier de Gogjali contre un marché populaire.

ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL

Malgré des conditions météorologiques dégradées, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont poursuivi leurs missions aériennes contre Daech et appuyé les FSI dès que possible. Depuis le 21 décembre, ils ont réalisé 58 sorties dont 48 de reconnaissances armées, 5 de recueil de renseignement par l’Atlantique 2 et les Rafale et 5 de ravitaillement par le C135 FR. Au total, 6 frappes ont été menées par les Rafale contre Daech et ont détruit 6 objectifs. Les frappes réalisées se sont concentrées dans la région de Mossoul en Irak. Elles visaient à appuyer les forces de sécurité irakiennes engagées dans la reprise de la ville. En particulier, plusieurs frappes ont neutralisé des snipers et des groupes de combattant de Daech qui harcelaient les forces de l’ICTS.

Thursday 29 December – Tornados and a Reaper struck five Daesh targets in Mosul, with the Tornados also destroying an artillery weapons north of Palmyra in Syria…The major focus for Royal Air Force operations against the Daesh terrorist network has continued to provide support to the Iraqi offensive to liberate Mosul. Two Tornado GR4s and a Reaper patrolled over the city on Thursday 29 December. The Reaper used its advanced sensors for the vital task of scanning for any sign of civilians who might be placed at risk by the fighting. It also provided surveillance assistance to five coalition air attacks that struck two communications towers, a mortar, a transport vehicle and a recoilless anti-tank gun, as well as conducting three successful attacks using its own Hellfire missiles against a mortar team firing from a treeline and two groups of terrorist fighters located in south-east Mosul. The Tornados meanwhile used a Brimstone missile to destroy a cart laden with weapons in a street in eastern Mosul, and Paveway IV guided bombs against an artillery position hidden amongst trees in parkland in northern Mosul. The GR4s were then tasked to fly west into Syria to deal with a terrorist artillery piece, mounted on a trailer, which had been identified a couple miles north of Palmyra. The weapon was destroyed by a direct hit from a Brimstone.

On Dec. 28, Coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery against ISIL targets.

Syria

. Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an oil well head.

. Near Ar Raqqah, six strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a heavy machine gun, a mortar system, and a vehicle; and disabled a bridge.

. Near Palmyra, one strike destroyed an ISIL-held tank.

Iraq

. Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed seven front-end loaders, four command and control nodes, two land bridges, a VBIED factory, a vehicle, and a steam roller; and damaged 24 supply routes.