As part of the wider coalition campaign against Daesh, Royal Air Force aircraft have targeted the terrorists with Brimstone missiles near Raqqa in Syria and have conducted further air strikes in Iraq.

Following their loss of control of key areas in Ramadi, Daesh extremists attempted to mount attacks against Iraqi ground forces near Haditha. Coalition aircraft provided extensive close air support to Iraqi troops, and on Wednesday 6 January, a pair of RAF Tornado GR4s used two Paveway IV bombs in attacks on with an Iraqi terrorists who were engaged in close combat unit.

The Typhoons then flew south to Ramadi, where operations continued as the Iraqis sought to eliminate those Daesh positions that remain in the city. Working closely with other coalition aircraft, the Typhoons conducted four Paveway attacks, destroying two machine-gun positions and two armoured personnel carriers.

In northern Iraq, Tornado GR4s supported Kurdish forces; south of Sinjar, a Paveway IV destroyed a terrorist team manning rocket launchers, while near Mosul, three fighting positions and three accommodation blocks used by Daesh were destroyed by six Paveways.

Later in the day, Typhoons were once again over Ramadi, where they struck two terrorist positions, including a heavy machine-gun team that was firing on Iraqi troops.

On 6 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck three ISIL vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and one ISIS vehicle southeast of Haditha using precision guided munitions.

On Jan. 5, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter, attack, ground-attack, bomber, 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 headquarters building.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Haditha, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL fighting position, and wounded six ISIL fighters.
* Near Kisik, five strikes destroyed two ISIL bunkers, nine ISIL fighting positions, 11 ISIL assembly areas, and suppressed a separate ISIL fighting position and an ISIL machine gun position.
* Near Mosul, one strike [British] destroyed an ISIL rocket cache.
* Near Ramadi, eight strikes [1 or 2 British] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL staging areas, three ISIL buildings, an ISIL front-end loader, six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL rocket propelled grenade system, an ISIL recoilless rifle, three ISIL vehicles, and four ISIL heavy machine guns. The strikes also damaged an ISIL tactical vehicle, denied ISIL access to terrain, and wounded three ISIL fighters. [see video below]
* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL bunker.

On Tuesday 5 January, RAF Typhoon patrols over Ramadi continued, they used Paveways to destroy two terrorist machine-gun positions, as well as an anti-aircraft gun that had opened fire on an Iraqi Air Force helicopter.

Near Haditha, Reapers provided close air support to Iraqi security forces as Daesh attempted to mount an attack on them Hellfire missiles and a GBU-12 were used against two armed pick-up trucks, two machine-gun teams and groups of terrorist fighters.

In the area around Mosul, Tornado GR4s hit two Daesh rocket teams.

Nederlandse F-16’s vlogen 20 missies in de strijd tegen ISIS in Irak. Daarbij zetten zij wapens in tegen voertuigen, een commandopost en ISIS-strijders. Op de vliegbasis waar de toestellen zijn gestationeerd is een nieuwe flightline in gebruik genomen. Sindsdien zijn de omstandigheden om te opereren aanzienlijk verbeterd.

In Erbil rondden meer dan 800 Koerdische Peshmerga de Infantry Battle Course af. In Bagdad werd de commando-cursus afgerond en ging een nieuwe lichting van start.

On Jan. 4, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 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 Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

* Near Ramadi, two strikes [British] denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Haditha, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, three ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL vehicles, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and wounded two ISIL fighters.

* Near Kisik, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, six ISIL bunkers, two ISIL-used culverts, an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL weapons cache, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Mosul, six strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL mortar positions, five ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and suppressed three separate ISIL mortar positions.

* Near Sinjar, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 11 ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL weapon caches, an ISIL command and control node, nine ISIL fighting positions, and two ISIL mortar positions.

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

On Monday 4 January, a pair of RAF Typhoon FGR4s operated over northern Iraq and used Paveway IV precision guided bombs to attack eight terrorist mortar and rocket positions.

Meanwhile, Tornado GR4s provided close air support to the Iraqi army as they continue their operations to eliminate the remaining terrorist fighters in and around Ramadi. When an Iraqi unit came under rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire from several Daesh-held buildings, the GR4s conducted a very accurate attack on all four buildings using Paveway IVs. The Tornados were tasked to deal with a group of terrorists who were preparing for a counter-attack. Despite this being a difficult target for most weapons, the GR4s were able to score a direct hit with a Brimstone missile.

An RAF Reaper was also patrolling over Ramadi it provided surveillance support for three air strikes by coalition fast jets, and also conducted two attacks using its own weapons, employing a GBU-12 laser guided bomb against a Daesh machine-gun team, and destroyed two terrorist trucks with a single Hellfire missile.

On Monday evening, a Tornado patrol, supported as ever by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, used a Paveway IV to strike a Daesh-held building near Mosul.

On 3 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL rocket emplacement in the vicinity of Al-Baghdadi with precision guided munitions.

On 3 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIL vehicle-borne IEDs north-west of Al-Baghdadi with precision guided munitions.

On Jan. 3, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, bomber, 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, one strike destroyed five ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes [1 or 2 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL machine gun, an ISIL fighting position, five ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and five ISIL rocket rails. The strikes also suppressed two ISIL mortar positions and an ISIL VBIED, cratered an ISIL-used road, wounded three ISIL fighters, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL bunker.
* Near Haditha, one strike [British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL VBIED, four ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
* Near Kisik, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Mosul, 12 strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL excavator, four ISIL weapons caches, ISIL engineering equipment, three ISIL heavy machine guns, 12 ISIL assembly areas, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL-used bridge.
* Near Ramadi, two strikes [1 or 2 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions and four buildings and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, two strikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed two ISIL machine gun positions.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike destroyed 10 ISIL bunkers.

Sunday 3 January proved a busy day for RAF aircraft: Typhoons delivered four successful attacks in Ramadi against terrorist positions, including a mortar team. A second Typhoon mission over Ramadi conducted no less than six attacks, accounting for five machine-guns and a sniper position.

Near Haditha, Tornados destroyed a truck-bomb, while a Reaper used Hellfires against two armed pick-up trucks and a group of terrorist fighters.

Over northern Iraq, two more flights of Tornado GR4s successfully attacked a total of two mortar and four machine-gun positions.

On Jan. 2, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using fighter and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, 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 Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant and destroyed an ISIL technical vehicle, an ISIL excavator, two ISIL front end loaders, and damaged a separate ISIL front end loader.

* Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle.

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

* Near Washiyah, one strike [French with others] struck an ISIL weapons manufacturing and storage facility.

Iraq

* Near Fallujah, one strike [British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Kirkuk, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

* Near Mosul, five strikes [2 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 18 ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL command and control nodes, two ISIL weapons caches, two ISIL tunnels, and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positons.

* Near Ramadi, seven strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL tactical vehicles, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), three ISIL buildings, two ISIL heavy machine gun positions, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL staging location, suppressed an ISIL VBIED, damaged an ISIL staging location, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes [1 Canadian] destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL light machine guns and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting positon.

* Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL-used bridge.

Additionally, in yesterday’s strike release, one strike in Iraq was erroneously listed separately in support of Coalition operations. This was incorrect, all strikes in Iraq were conducted in support of and coordination with the Government of Iraq against ISIL targets.

le 02 janvier, des Rafale ont détruit un centre de production et de stockage d’armement au Nord-Est d’Alep en Syrie avec des missiles SCALP.’

Dans la nuit du samedi 02 au dimanche 03 janvier 2016, les forces françaises ont conduit un raid aérien contre un site industriel contrôlé par Daech situé à plusieurs dizaines de kilomètres à l’Est de la ville d’Alep en Syrie. L’objectif visé a été détruit.

Engagé depuis le Golfe arabo-persique le raid était constitué de 4 avions Rafale équipés de missiles SCALP (système de croisière autonome à longue portée). Les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont agi conjointement avec des avions de la coalition.

Le site, constitué de bâtiments durcis, servait d’usine de fabrication de roquettes artisanales et de stockage d’armement à l’organisation terroriste. Ce raid contribue à affaiblir les capacités logistiques et militaires de Daech à proximité des zones de combat.

On 2 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions south west of Sinjar, using precision guided munitions.

On 2 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS compound near Bartallah, (east of Mosul), using precision guided munitions.

On 2 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS compound near Kudilah, (southeast of Mosul), using precision guided munitions.

On 2 January, another Reaper used a Hellfire missile to destroy a mortar position near Fallujah.

During the month of November 2016, CJTF-OIR received 16 new reports and assessed seven previously received reports of possible civilian casualties resulting from Coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria in the fight to defeat ISIL. Thirteen of these reports were assessed to be non-credible, five were assessed to be credible, and five reports are still being assessed. Coalition strikes are defined as strikes conducted by ground artillery or air strikes conducted as part of the Coalition Air Tasking Order.

CJTF-OIR takes all reports of civilian casualties seriously and assesses all reports as thoroughly as possible. Although we are unable to investigate all reports of possible civilian casualties using traditional investigative methods, such as by interviewing witnesses and examining the site, the Coalition interviews pilots and other personnel involved in the targeting process, reviews strike and surveillance video if available, and analyzes information provided by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, partner forces and traditional and social media. In addition, the Coalition considers new information when it becomes available in order to promote a thorough and continuous review process.

After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following 13 reports are non-credible.  Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient information available to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.

1.      Feb. 2, 2016, Hama Province, Syria:  No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

2.      Oct. 5, 2016, near al-Qayyarah, Iraq:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

3.      Oct. 6, 2016, near al Shaddadi, Syria:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

4.      Oct. 22, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq:  No Coalition strikes were conducted on structures in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

5.      Oct. 23, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq:  Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

6.      Nov. 2, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  No Coalition strikes were conducted on structures in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

7.      Nov. 7, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

8.      Nov. 8, 2016, near Al Heisha or Ayn Issa, Syria:  Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

9.      Nov. 15, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

10.     Nov. 22, 2016, near Tal Afar, Iraq:  No Coalition strikes were conducted on structures in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

11.     Nov. 22, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

12.     Nov. 24, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

13.     Nov. 28, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  No Coalition strikes were conducted on structures in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.
Although the Coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimizes the risk of civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable.  Five reports were assessed to be credible resulting in the unintended death of 15 civilians.

A credible assessment means that, it is more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in a civilian casualty.  In each of the incidents below, the investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the Law of Armed Conflict, unintended civilian casualties unfortunately occurred.

1.      Nov. 6, 2016, near Shahid-Yunis As Sab, Iraq:  During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that seven civilians were unintentionally killed when the targeted vehicle came into close proximity to two stationary vehicles just prior to the munition’s impact.

2.      Nov. 21, 2016, near Al-Salahiyah, Syria:  During a strike on ISIL-held buildings it is assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed.

3.      Nov. 26, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  During a strike on ISIL fighters and a technical vehicle it is assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed by the munition’s strike blast.

4.      Nov. 26, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria:  During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that one civilian pedestrian was unintentionally killed by the munition’s strike blast.

5.      Nov. 29, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq:  During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.

Currently, five reports of civilian casualties received in November are still being assessed:

1.      Sept. 20, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq.

2.      July 20, 2016, near Manbij, Syria.

3.      Nov. 14, 2016, near Tal Afar, Iraq.

4.      Nov. 19, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria.

5.      Nov. 24, 2016, near Omar Gosp, Syria.

Additionally, the Coalition is investigating the Dec. 29, 2016, strike on a van [in Mosul] carrying ISIL fighters observed firing a SPG9/RPG recoilless rifle. The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties.

To date, based on information available, CJTF-OIR has assessed that, it is more likely than not, at least 188 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition strikes since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve.  We regret the unintentional loss of civilian lives resulting from Coalition efforts to defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria and express our deepest sympathies to the families and others affected by these strikes.

On Jan. 1, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using fighter, fighter-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Coalition military forces conducted one strike in Iraq in support of Coalition operations using fighter aircraft.*

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-used bridge.[see video below]

* Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes struck three ISIL gas and oil separation plants.

* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed five ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed three ISIL weapons caches.

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Kisik, nine strikes suppressed an ISIL fighting position and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Mosul, three strikes destroyed 17 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL VBIED facility.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes [1 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL heavy machine gun positions, three ISIL buildings, an ISIL vehicle, cratered two ISIL-used roads, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL weapons caches, and an ISIL command and control node.

* Near Tal Afar, four strikes struck destroyed six ISIL bunkers and denied ISIL access to terrain.

On 1 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck four ISIS fighting positions with precision guided munitions.

On Friday 1 January, an RAF Reaper supported coalition air strikes in Ramadi.