On Feb. 6, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes using attack and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using ground-attack, attack, and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL anti-air artillery position.

* Near Mar’a, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Manbij, one strike destroyed three ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Kirkuk, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, and eight ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Mosul, three strikes destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL command and control node, two ISIL weapons caches, and suppressed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.

* Near Ramadi, three strikes [2 Canadian] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an IED cluster, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL bed down locations, and an ISIL weapons cache.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

On 6 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position north of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On 6 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck ISIL heavy engineering equipment in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On 5 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL staging area and weapons cache in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On Feb. 5, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 14 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 Ayn Isa, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and four ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Mosul, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and eight ISIL command and control nodes.

* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

* Near Ramadi, three strikes [1 British] struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, and an ISIL fuel transporter, six ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL front end loader, and an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

The following day [Friday 5 February], Typhoons operated around Habbaniyah and Ramadi, using eight Paveways to destroy an armed truck, a recoilless gun, two Daesh-held buildings, a command and control position, two weapons caches and a workshop producing truck-bombs.

On Feb. 4, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using ground-attack, 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 struck an ISIL staging area.

* Near Al Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Manbij, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL command and control node.

Iraq

* Near Fallujah, two strikes [1 Canadian] struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL rocket position, an ISIL fighting position, and an ISIL boat.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL improvised explosives device (IED) facility.

* Near Mosul, five strikes [1 Canadian] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL weapon caches, three ISIL assembly areas, and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL rocket positions, an ISIL weapons cache, and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ramadi, three strikes [2 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL staging areas, four ISIL weapon caches, an ISIL bed down location, and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL weapons cache, and two ISIL command and control nodes.

* Near Tikrit, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

4 February: RAF patrols over the countryside around Ramadi and Fallujah. Typhoons bombed three Daesh positions, as well as a group of terrorists caught moving in the open, whilst Tornado GR4s again attacked extremists engaged in very close combat with Iraqi forces; Paveways were used to destroy a heavy machine-gun team and a strongpoint, but in one instance, the terrorists were so close to the Iraqi troops that even a Paveway could not be used safely. Fortunately, the Brimstone missile’s precision and small warhead allowed one to be fired into the midst of the Daesh fighters to significant effect.

On 4 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position west of Fallujah using precision guided munitions.

Proche et Moyen-Orient : Chammal

Au cours de la semaine, les lignes de front n’ont pas connu d’évolution notable. Le groupe terroriste Daech reste sur une posture défensive.

Irak-Syrie : situation tactique

En Irak, les tentatives locales de contre-attaques des combattants terroristes sont repoussées et contrées par les forces irakiennes, que ce soit dans la vallée du Tigre à Baiji ou dans la vallée de l’Euphrate dans les secteurs d’Haditha, de Hit et de Fallujah. Les opérations aériennes de la coalition ont permis d’appuyer au sol les forces au contact de Daech. À Ramadi, les opérations de sécurisation de la ville se poursuivent.

En Syrie, les forces de Daech sont également sous pression.

Chammal : 3 500 militaires français luttent contre Daech

L’action de la force Chammal repose sur deux piliers : une capacité de frappe aérienne dirigée contre Daech, en Irak comme en Syrie ; un pilier de formation au profit des forces irakiennes engagées au sol dans les combats contre le groupe terroriste.

Intensification des opérations aériennes contre les terroristes

Au cours des quinze derniers jours, l’activité aérienne de la force Chammal a été particulièrement soutenue. Le bilan de l’activité depuis le 20 janvier s’établit ainsi à 156 sorties, 48 frappes et 74 objectifs détruits.

Dans la seule semaine du 27 janvier au 2 février 2016, les aéronefs de l’armée de l’Air et de la Marine nationale ont effectué 102 sorties, dont 82 sorties de bombardement et 10 sorties dédiées à l’acquisition de renseignement. 30 frappes ont été conduites, dont 28 d’appui au sol et 2 lors de raids planifiés.

Depuis le 20 janvier, 3 raids planifiés en Irak et en Syrie

Le 25 janvier, à Mossoul en Irak, les aéronefs français ont détruit un centre de commandement de Daech et un site abritant un dépôt de munitions et d’armement.

Le 28 janvier, à 80km de Ramadi en Irak, un raid de la coalition auquel participaient les chasseurs de la force Chammal a permis de détruire un lieu de stockage et de production d’armement utilisé pour fabriquer des engins explosifs.

Mené le 1er février au nord-est d’Alep en Syrie, un raid interallié et interarmées (Rafale Air et Marine équipés de missiles SCALP) a permis de détruire un camp d’entraînement qui abritait également un site de stockage d’armement. Un C-135 français a participé au ravitaillement des chasseurs engagés dans ce raid.

On Feb. 3, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, ground-attack, 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 Ayn Isa, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mar’a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL vehicles, four ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, five strikes [3 Canadian] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 16 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL assembly area, ISIL engineering equipment, and an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Qayyarah, six strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL assembly areas, two ISIL command and control nodes, six ISIL vehicles, seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL mortar tube, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL weapons cache, and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Ramadi, four strikes [4 British] struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed ISIL engineering equipment, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL tactical vehicle, eight ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL rocket propelled grenade systems, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL staging area, and 11 ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL front end loader.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL fighting position.

3 February: Typhoons and Tornados providing close air support to Iraqi forces clearing Daesh positions in the area around Ramadi. The Typhoons destroyed a terrorist building with a Paveway, then used two more Paveways to engage a pair of Daesh groups, armed with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, which were engaged in close combat with Iraqi troops. Despite the proximity of the friendly forces, the precision of the Paveways and careful planning by the aircrew allowed both targets to be struck successfully. The Tornados similarly had to attack a series of Daesh positions close to Iraqi forces, and these were also highly successful: Paveway attacks accounted for four groups of terrorist fighters, including one heavy machine-gun and two mortar teams, and when machine-gunners opened fire on the Iraqis from the windows of a single storey building, the Tornados launched a pair of Brimstone missiles which accurately struck both windows.

Later in the day, Typhoons used a Paveway to destroy a mechanical excavator which had been converted into a large booby-trap, positioned amongst trees next to a road east of Ramadi.