On Aug. 23, coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes using bomber, attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted four strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery, fighter aircraft, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Shadadi, 10 strikes struck 10 separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed six fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, three vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, four mortar positions, an anti-air artillery system and an armored personnel carrier.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL improvised weapons assembly area.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed two ISIL oil tanker trucks, two cranes, three bulldozers, and damaged another bulldozer.

* Near Manbij, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged another fighting position.

* Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position, and a mortar system.

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Statement on Possible Civilian Casualties near Ar Raqqah, Syria

TAMPA, Fla. – A strike yesterday on an ISIL weapons facility near Ar Raqqah, Syria, may have resulted in civilian casualties, according to U.S. Central Command’s own post-strike assessment.

CENTCOM’s internal assessment of possible civilian casualties in this incident has been deemed credible. The incident will be reviewed, next, at the joint task force level at which point officials will decide whether an investigation is needed.

Reports indicate that what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft. The vehicle’s occupants may have perished as a result of the strike.

CENTCOM has extensive processes and techniques in place to avoid or minimize civilian casualties. Every report of civilian casualties, from either internal or external sources, is scrutinized regarding possible casualties and collateral damage. Assessments that are determined to be credible are reviewed as to whether the actions comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict.

Monday 22 August – Typhoons attacked terrorists hiding in a cave in northern Iraq, as well as their transport vehicle…On Monday 22 August, two Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s operated over northern Iraq. A group of Daesh extremists had been located, sheltering in a cave amongst hills on the southern bank of the Tigris, overlooking the river, some miles to the north-west of Mosul. The Typhoons used one Paveway IV guided bomb to attack the cave entrance, and a second to destroy the terrorists’ vehicle, parked on a nearby track.

On Aug. 22, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using bomber and attack aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets.

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

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike struck an ISIL wellhead.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL workover rig, a pump jack, and an oil tanker truck.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes struck an ISIL wellhead and a staging area.

* Near Manbij, four strikes struck four ISIL tactical units, and destroyed a fighting position.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL repeater tower.

* Near Haditha, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged a tunnel entrance.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and a tunnel entrance.

* Near Qayyarah, four strikes struck an ISIL training camp, destroyed two rocket rails, a fighting position, two mortar positions, a tunnel entrance, two assembly areas, an anti-air artillery system, six repeater tower generators, a communications tower, suppressed a rocket firing position, two mortar firing positions and denied access to terrain.

* Near Ramadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

On Aug. 21st, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes using ground-attack, 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 rocket artillery and bomber, attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike [1 French] struck an ISIL weapons facility.

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck seven ISIL wellheads and a crude oil collection point.

* Near Manbij, six strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units, destroyed a fighting position, one tactical vehicle, and an anti-air artillery system.

* Near Tamakh, one strike destroyed an ISIL tank.

Iraq

* Near Bashir, one strike destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Haditha, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

* Near Mosul, two strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed three vehicles and a mortar position.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a mortar system, a vehicle, five assembly areas, a supply cache, a front-end loader and denied access to terrain.

* Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, a vehicle, a boat and damaged a fighting position.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL security headquarters.

Sunday 21 August – Tornados struck a terrorist group and a tank in northern Iraq, whilst Typhoons bombed an armed truck in western Iraq…On Sunday 21 August, a Typhoon flight bombed an armed truck a few miles to the north-west of Ramadi, on the northern bank of the Euphrates, while Tornados were active once more over northern Iraq; a Paveway IV attack struck a terrorist position to the south-west of Kirkuk, and a Brimstone missile was used to destroy a T-62 tank operated by Daesh to the north of Mosul.

1 frappe planifiée a été conduite en Syrie le 21 août. Le raid aérien français a frappé un centre de stockage et de maintenance d’armements lourds de Daech à Raqqah. Ce raid était composé de quatre Rafale, de quatre Mirage 2000 et d’un Atlantique 2. Une dizaine de missiles de croisière SCALP ont touché et détruit ce centre situé au cœur du territoire contrôlé par le groupe terroriste.

On Aug. 20th, Coalition military forces conducted 23 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes using bomber, ground-attack, 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, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike struck three ISIL wellheads and a crude oil collection point.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes struck three ISIL wellheads and three crude oil collection points and destroyed a pump jack.

* Near Manbij, nine strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle, an artillery system, a supply cache, and a rocket launcher.

* Near Mar’a, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and five improvised explosive devices and damaged two fighting positions.

* Near Tamakh, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and a tactical vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Bashir, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

* Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position and a vehicle.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike [1 British] destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, two rocket rails, two rocket systems, and two vehicle-borne improvised explosive device storage facilities and denied access to terrain.

* Near Ramadi, one strike destroyed two ISIL vehicles.

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle checkpoint and a vehicle and suppressed two mortar positions.

Operations continue in Manbij

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The Syrian Arab Coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces continue operations in Manbij City in the ongoing effort to clear the liberated city of Da’esh fighters, identify and remove improvised explosive devices, and establish a defensive posture capable of thwarting a Da’esh counter-attack.

The continued clearance is part of a broader effort to prepare defendable positions for long-term security in Manbij City.

The full extent and complexity of the improvised explosive devices and booby traps in Manbij City is slowly emerging and still presents a threat to civilians. These devices were left behind by Da’esh fighters to maim civilians and slow operations. To protect the local population, the Manbij Military Council Commander, Gen. Abu Amjad, has publicly warned citizens of these dangers.

The population is receiving a variety of assistance throughout the area. The SAC established dedicated medical facilities and continues to work with Coalition partners to ensure the availability of humanitarian assistance. The Kurdish Regional Government increased the capacity of the Fishkapour crossing to allow the movement of non-government officials to deliver humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons.

The Coalition-supported Syrian moderate opposition efforts in Manbij City and al Rai continue to weaken Da’esh’s threat to Turkey, Europe, and United States.

Saturday 20 August – a Reaper destroyed another terrorist mortar team near Qayyarah…Another Reaper patrolled over Qayyarah on Saturday 20 August, again hunting for a reported mortar team. The target was tracked down and successfully prosecuted using a Hellfire.

OPERATION CHAMMAL : Nouveau raid aérien français au coeur du dispositif de Daech à Raqqah en Syrie

Mise à jour : 22/08/2016 10:14

Le 21 août 2016, un raid aérien français a frappé un centre de stockage et de maintenance d’armements lourds de Daech à Raqqah, en Syrie.

Ce raid était composé de quatre Rafale, de quatre Mirage 2000 et d’un Atlantique 2. Une dizaine de missiles de croisière SCALP ont touché et détruit ce centre situé au cœur du territoire contrôlé par le groupe terroriste.

Cette action intervient après une intense semaine de frappes des aéronefs français, dans le cadre de la coalition internationale, en soutien aux opérations terrestres des forces irakiennes et kurdes près de Mossoul en Irak. Ces frappes ont détruit de nombreux postes de combat, des caches d’armes, des sites de fabrication d’engins explosifs et d’armements lourds. Elles contribuent au travail de préparation des batailles pour les reprises de Mossoul en Irak et de Raqqah en Syrie.

Lancée depuis le 19 septembre 2014, l’opération Chammal mobilise actuellement 1000 militaires. Elle vise, à la demande du gouvernement irakien et en coordination avec les alliés de la France présents dans la région, à assurer un soutien aérien en Irak et en Syrie dans la lutte contre le groupe terroriste autoproclamé Daech, en frappant l’organisation terroriste avec ses moyens aériens. Le dispositif complet est actuellement structuré autour de quatorze avions de chasse de l’armée de l’Air (six Rafale, huit Mirage 2000 D et N) d’un avion de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2 ainsi que de capacités de renseignement, de commandement, de contrôle (C2) et de ravitaillement. Il comprend également une centaine de militaires projetés à Bagdad et Erbil pour la formation et le conseil des états-majors et unités irakiennes.