September 26th 2015: The UK will extend its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) commitment to Coalition operations in Iraq and Syria, the Defence Secretary has announced.

The deployment of RAF Sentinel aircraft, the most advanced airborne surveillance system of its kind in the world, will be extended until 2016. It is the RAF’s only long-range wide area battlefield surveillance aircraft, using two types of radar it is able to identify and track multiple targets over great distances. Flying three missions a week, the aircraft will continue to provide critical information which allows British and coalition forces to hit ISIL targets on the ground.

The announcement comes as the UK’s involvement in counter-ISIL operations reaches the one year point. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

“The fight against ISIL is our top operational priority and Britain is playing a vital role. Our armed forces have conducted more than 300 strikes, flown almost a third of all coalition surveillance flights and trained over 2,000 local troops.

In 2014 ISIL enjoyed near total freedom of movement across much of Iraq but we’ve helped stop the jihadist advance, reclaiming a quarter of ISIL-held territory.

Now we must build on this progress. We will not let up until we have defeated this barbaric terrorist organisation.”

On the 26th September 2014 Parliament voted to assist the Iraqi government in their fight against ISIL terrorists. The UK joined a 62 nation Global Coalition made up of international partners including nations from the Middle East, all united in a determination to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.

Since then the UK has provided forces and equipment that few other nations can. Currently there are around 800 personnel, including the Coalition Deputy Commander, supporting the campaign:

• RAF Tornados and Reaper equipped with precision munitions, Brimstone and Hellfire missiles and Paveway IV bombs, have conducted more than 300 successful strikes and have flown over 1300 missions.
• RAF Reaper, Airseeker and Sentinel aircraft have contributed 30 per cent of Coalition surveillance flights.
• We have trained nearly 2000 Iraqi personnel who are taking the fight to ISIL in their own country. This includes leading the Coalition’s counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) training programme – crucial to enabling local forces to deal safely with improvised explosives as they advance on ISIL territory.
• We have gifted half a million rounds of ammunition, numerous weapons, 1000 IED detectors and over 50 tonnes of non-lethal support, while RAF transport planes have delivered hundreds of tonnes of equipment gifted by other nations.

With the support provided by Britain, at the heart of the Coalition, Iraqi forces have regained 25 per cent of the territory that ISIL held after its advance last summer. They have taken back 200 square kilometres in the North; retaken Tikrit in the centre, with 100,000 citizens now having returned to the city; and have pushed ISIL out of Diyala province in the East.

On Sept. 25, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one airstrike using bomber aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 24 airstrikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Al Hawl, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

• Near Al Baghdadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and an ISIL mortar system.

• Near Al Huwayjah, four airstrikes destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Al Qaim, one airstrike had inconclusive results.

• Near Albu Hayat, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL training facility and two ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Bayji, three airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL buildings, an ISIL VBIED, and wounded two ISIL fighters.

• Near Habbaniya, two airstrikes destroyed seven ISIL rocket rails and an ISIL excavator.

• Near Mosul, five airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL staging positions, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL cache.

• Near Sinjar, three airstrikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL bunker.

• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle and an ISIL observation post.

On Sept. 24, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one airstrike using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 21 airstrikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.

Iraq

• Near Al Huwayjah, two airstrikes destroyed 37 ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Bayji, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

• Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL rocket rail.

• Near Hit, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL vehicles, and wounded three ISIL fighters.

• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Kisik, one airstrike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Mosul, four airstrikes [1 British] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL cache, and an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Qayyarah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL VBIED.

• Near Ramadi, five airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL resupply truck, an ISIL dump truck, an ISIL cache, and cratered a road to deny ISIL use.

• Near Rawah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, and an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Sultan Abdallah, one airstrike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL vehicle, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Tornado GR4s were again on patrol near Mosul on Thursday 24 September, when they were called upon to assist a Kurdish unit under fire from an ISIL mortar; the terrorist position was hit in a Paveway strike.

On 23 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory in Mosul using precision guided munitions.

Coalition airstrikes continued destruction of key portions of the Daesh vehicle-borne IED network near Mosul, Iraq September 23, 2015, in coordination with the Government of Iraq.

These airstrikes eliminated two significant VBIED production facilities that contributed to the VBIED network fueling ISIL’s terrorist activities in the region.

“We will continue to systematically target and attack the Daesh VBIED network to increase security for the Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi population,” said Col. Christopher Garver, CJTF-OIR Public Affairs Officer.

This airstrike is part of a broader effort by the Coalition to degrade and ultimately defeat Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

Les aéronefs des forces françaises engagées au Levant dans le cadre de l’opération Chammal poursuivent leurs missions opérationnelles au-dessus des zones contrôlées par le groupe terroriste Daechen Irak et en Syrie. Au total, 17 missions aériennes ont été effectuées, dont 5 missions de renseignement au-dessus de la Syrie. En Irak, 10 frappes ont été réalisées au cours de la semaine qui ont conduit à la destruction d’une quinzaine d’objectifs dans les régions de Mossoul et de Baiji.

A Bagdad, les militaires français poursuivent les actions de formations et de conseil au profit des forces irakiennes. Le détachement d’instruction opérationnel 13 conduira jusqu’au début du mois d’octobre deux instructions spécifiques : le « Leadership course »et le « Selection Course »réalisés au profit des soldats irakiens de l’ICTS (Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service).

On Sept. 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four airstrikes using fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 airstrikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL motorcycle.
• Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
• Near Mar’a, one airstrike destroyed one ISIL towed artillery piece.

Iraq

• Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike destroyed 16 ISIL fighting positions.
• Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL anti-air artillery pieces.
• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
• Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL VBIED facilities, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL cache, an ISIL bunker, and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL light machine gun, and two ISIL mortar positions.
• Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL excavator, and three ISIL mobility obstacles.
• Near Sinjar, three airstrikes struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed and ISIL light machine gun and six ISIL fighting positions.
• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike suppressed ISIL mortar fire.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely. The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group’s ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations which have conducted airstrikes in Iraq include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. Coalition nations which have conducted airstrikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the U.S.
Finally, on Sept. 10, Coalition forces conducted a previously unreported airstrike near Tal Afar, Iraq, which struck an ISIL tactical unit and resulted in a destroyed vehicle and the death of a senior ISIL leader.

On Sept. 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six airstrikes using fighter, ground-attack, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 24 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Al Hasakah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging facility.
• Near Al Hawl, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.
• Near Manbij, two airstrikes struck separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed three ISIL buildings and an ISIL mortar system.
• Near Mar’a, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bulldozer.

Iraq

• Near Al Huwayjah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint and ten ISIL fighting positions.
• Near Bayji, four airstrikes struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL buildings, four ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and an ISIL fighting position.
• Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed eight ISIL rocket rails.
• Near Haditha, one airstrike struck an ISIL weapons cache while a second strike produced inconclusive results.
• Near Hit, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
• Near Kirkuk, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed ISIL mortar fire.
• Near Kisik, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL fighting position, and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
• Near Mosul, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
• Near Qayyarah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.
• Near Ramadi, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL rocket system, three ISIL vehicles, eight ISIL boats, three home-made explosive caches, and an ISIL sniper position.
• Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
• Near Sultan Abdallah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL fighting position, and suppressed ISIL mortar fire.
• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike destroyed six ISIL fighting positions.

De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 15. september fløjet 12 missioner og anvendt 2 bomber.

Missionerne, som de danske fly har deltaget i, har været offensive, og de danske fly har i den forløbne periode deltaget i missioner i Ninawa, Salah al Din og Al Anbar provinserne. Målene for bomberne har været våbenstillinger og køretøjer anvendt af ISIL.

De danske fly har fløjet Close Air Support-missioner (CAS), hvor flyene er indsat som luftstøtte til styrker på landjorden. Her vil flyene patruljere over et bestemt område, hvorefter de vil kunne blive indsat af koalitionen, når der er behov for støtte. Luftstøtten vil variere afhængig af, hvad der er behov for. Det kan både dreje sig om overvågningsopgaver og bombninger af mål.

På de missioner, hvor de danske F-16 ikke har anvendt våben, har de bidraget med overvågning og indhentning af efterretninger. På sådanne overvågningsmissioner er flyene dog altid klar til at anvende våben, hvis der er behov for det.

Der er en rettelse til sidste uges tal, hvor der blev fløjet 11 missioner og ikke 9 som skrevet.

Siden første mission den 16. oktober 2014, har det danske bidrag i alt fløjet 531 missioner og anvendt 474 bomber. Alle de danske bomber er præcisionsstyrede, hvilket vil sige, at de styres mod deres mål ved hjælp af enten laser eller GPS.

De Nederlandse F-16’s in het Midden-Oosten voerden ongeveer 10 missies uit. Daarbij werden wapens ingezet tegen voertuigen, gebouwen en vuurposities van ISIS-strijders.

Luitenant-kolonel Gert Strick droeg het commando over de Capacity Building Mission Iraq (CBMI) in Erbil over aan ranggenoot Henk de Boer. “Train Pesh (Peshmerga) to fight DA’ISH (ISIS)” is het devies van de internationale trainingsmissie. De Boer is met de aanstelling ook de Senior National Representative van het Nederlandse detachement en chef-staf van het Kurdis Training Coordination Centre.

Afgelopen week ontvingen de geslaagde leerlingen van de Commando Course 61 van de Irakese Special Operations Forces hun certificaat. Daarbij was de Nederlandse ambassadeur, Jan Waltmans, aanwezig.

Tijdens de cursus zijn Irakese instructeurs begeleid bij het zelf instructie geven aan hun eigen leerlingen. Ook zijn er extra instructeurs opgeleid. Uiteindelijk moeten de Irakese strijdkrachten zelf de opleiding gaan verzorgen.

Vorige week arriveerde de tweede groep van CBMI rotatie 3 in Erbil. De militairen, merendeels van de marine en de landmacht, namen de werkzaamheden over van rotatie 2.

Afgelopen week zijn de Infantry Battle Course en de opleiding tot Schutter Lange Afstand voor 2 Peshmerga-bataljons afgerond. Dat gebeurde in de omgeving van Erbil.

On Sept. 21, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six airstrikes using fighter, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Al Hawl, five airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL cache, two ISIL motorcycles, and an ISIL bunker.

• Near Mar’a, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL vehicle, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Iraq

• Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle.

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

• Near Kisik, one airstrike suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun.

• Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL command and control node, and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.

• Near Qayyarah, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL checkpoint, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

• Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, three ISIL buildings, and an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL cache.

• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

On Monday 21 September, another Reaper, operating over north-west Iraq, identified two vehicles carrying ISIL terrorists which were successfully tracked and destroyed with Hellfire missiles.

On Sept. 20, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five airstrikes using fighter and bomber aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 22 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Al Hasakah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL armored personnel carrier.

• Near Al Hawl, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL rocket launcher.

• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL checkpoints.

• Near Mar’a, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL mortar.

Iraq

• Near Al Huawayjah, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Bayji, one airstrike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.

• Near Habbaniya, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery piece, and an ISIL technical vehicle.

• Near Kisik, four airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL light machine gun and an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Mosul, nine airstrikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, three ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL VBIED facility, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL building, an ISIL C2 node and wounded an ISIL fighter.

• Near Qayyarah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Ramadi, two airstrikes [1 British?] destroyed an ISIL homemade explosive chache, an ISIL vehicle and ISIL mortar system.

• Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike destroyed eight ISIL bunkers and suppressed two ISIL mortar positions.

The next day [September 20th 2015], an RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft on patrol over western Iraq launched a Hellfire missile which destroyed a stockpile of explosives.

On Sept. 19, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq. Coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, strike, fighter-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:

Iraq

• Near Bayji, one airstrike resulted in terrain denied to ISIL fighters.

• Near Hit, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Kisik, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL bunker.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.

• Near Sinjar, three airstrikes [1 British] struck two ISIL tactical units, destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and five ISIL bunkers.

• Near Tal Afar, one airstrike, struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Tornado GR4s, supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker, provided close air support on Saturday 19 September to Kurdish peshmerga as they conducted offensive operations. Near Sinjar, the peshmerga came under fire from a heavy machine-gun positioned in a building. This was destroyed by our aircraft using a Paveway IV precision guided bomb.

The GR4s then flew east to the area around Mosul, where another Kurdish unit was being engaged by a terrorist mortar team; this too was neutralised by a Paveway IV.

On Sep. 18, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five airstrike using fighter and ground-attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, fighter, fighter-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 Tal Abyad, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Al Hasakah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Al Hawl, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL bunkers.

• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL check point.

• Near Mar’a, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

• Near Al Baghdadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one vehicle.

• Near Haditha, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL sniper position and two ISIL buildings.

• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike suppressed ISIL mortar fire.

• Near Kisik, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed ISIL mortars, an ISIL cache, an ISIL fighting position, and two ISIL vehicles.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL fighting position and suppressed ISIL rocket fire.

• Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL motorcycle

• Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL light machine gun and four ISIL fighting positions and suppressed light machine gun fire.

On Sep. 17, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five airstrike using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted nine airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using, fighter, fighter-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 Ar Hasakah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL cache, three ISIL fighting positions and one ISIL motorcycle.

• Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

• Near Manbij, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL mortar tube.

• Near Mar’a, one airstrike struck a large ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

• Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike with inconclusive results.

• Near Baji, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one ISIL vehicle.

• Near Kirkuk, one airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, one ISIL heavy machine gun.

• Near Ramadi, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Rawah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and one ISIL excavator.

Depuis le 8 septembre 2015, la zone d’opérations des forces armées françaises engagées dans la région du Levant, s’est étendue jusqu’à la Syrie, avec le survol de zones contrôlées par le groupe terroriste Daech.

Il s’agit de missions de reconnaissance (ISR – Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) dont l’objectif est d’acquérir du renseignement sur Daech et de compléter les informations sur des points d’intérêts militaires. Cette semaine a été marquée par la poursuite de ces missions de renseignement au-dessus de la Syrie, ainsi que par les frappes au-dessus de l’Irak. 6 missions ISR ont été réalisées au-dessus des zones contrôlées par Daech en Syrie. Au total, la force Chammal a conduit cette semaine 14 missions aériennes dont 9 missions de reconnaissance armée ayant abouti à 3 frappes en Irak, dans les régions de Mossoul et Baïji.

Lancée depuis le 19 septembre 2014, l’opération Chammal mobilise 700 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 appui (aérien et formation) aux forces irakiennes dans la lutte contre le groupe terroriste autoproclamé Daech. Le dispositif complet est actuellement structuré autour de douze avions de chasse de l’armée de l’Air (six Rafale, trois Mirage 2000D et trois Mirage 2000N) et d’un avion de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2.

On Sep. 16, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one airstrike using remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 21 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Bayji, four airstrikes struck one large and one small ISIL tactical units, an ISIL backhoe, an ISIL tunnel and destroyed 14 ISIL vehicles, three ISIL support positions, and an ISIL armored bulldozer.

* Near Fallujah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL rocket rail.

* Near Kirkuk, two airstrikes struck two ISIL mortar firing positions.

* Near Kisik, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Mosul, eight airstrikes struck five ISIL tactical units and destroyed 35 ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL armored vehicle.

* Near Ramadi, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL VBIED and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Sinjar, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and struck two ISIL mortar firing positions and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

GR4s bombed two terrorist positions, including a heavy-machine gun, which were firing on Kurdish troops on Wednesday 16 September, and in western Iraq a Reaper destroyed an engineering vehicle and a large car-bomb which ISIL were positioning to attempt to hold up Iraqi advances.

On Sep. 15, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three airstrikes using fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes coordinated with the government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, fighter-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 Mar’a, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Abu Kamal, two airstrikes struck two ISIL oil field wellheads.

Iraq

• Near Al Baghdadi, one airstrike destroyed three ISIL rocket rails.

• Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck one large and one small ISIL tactical units, and destroyed three ISIL vehicles.

• Near Fallujah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL rockets.

• Near Hit, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

• Near Kirkuk, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and 12 ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL motor tube and three ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Sultan Abdallah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

On Tuesday 15 September, a Reaper assisted coalition strikes on ISIL rocket launchers in western Iraq, then used Hellfires to attack an ISIL team as they attempted to arm a “daisy-chain” of linked improvised explosive devices and a GBU-12 guided bomb against a hostile fighting position.

Since my last Defence Force operations update to the Parliament, we’ve seen further atrocities and terrorist attacks either conducted, or inspired by, the terrorist movement known as Daesh.

Beyond Iraq and Syria, Australia’s thoughts and condolences are with the people of France, Kuwait, Tunisia, Turkey and, most recently, Saudi Arabia whose countries have suffered at the hands of Daesh terrorists.

These attacks reaffirm that Daesh is a threat not only to the Middle East, but to all countries, including Australia.

It is for this reason that the Australian Government remains committed to the international effort to disrupt, degrade and ultimately defeat Daesh.

This commitment is underscored by the Government’s decision to extend Australian Defence Force air strikes against Daesh into eastern Syria. This is a logical extension of our existing commitment in the Middle East.

As the Government announced last week, this marks the next phase of Australia’s contribution to our important campaign against Daesh.

Daesh does not respect borders and threatens the security of Iraq and the international community from its safe havens and command centres in Syria.

It controls a large amount of territory in eastern Syria that serves as a source of recruitment and oil revenues. From Syria, Daesh has been able to operate its training bases, conduct planning and preparation for attacks, and move fighters and equipment into, and out of, Iraq.

Royal Australian Air Force efforts in eastern Syria will are being directed solely at Daesh – we will not be engaging in the broader conflict in Syria.

The legal basis for Australia’s air operations in Syria remains the collective self-defence of Iraq. We strongly believe Iraq should not be left to face this horrendous threat alone.

This is why Australia is continuing its Advise and Assist and Building Partner Capacity missions to develop the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, and continues to contribute an Air Task Group, at the request of, and to support, the Iraqi Government….

Australia’s Air Task Group remains a leading contributor of platforms, support personnel and missions flown in the coalition air campaign against Daesh.

As at 13 September, the Air Task Group had completed a total of 408 ADF airstrike missions over Iraq.

Specifically,

• Our F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft have completed 209 missions, releasing 278 weapons;
• The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft have completed 199 missions, releasing 237 weapons;
• The KC-30A air-to-air refuelling aircraft has conducted 394 missions, offloading nearly 32 million pounds of fuel to Australian and coalition aircraft; and
• The E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft has conducted 135 command and control missions.

As has been reported, the Air Task Group has completed its first strike against a Daesh target in eastern Syria, destroying an Armoured Personnel Carrier. Two of our F/A-18 Hornets identified the Personnel Carrier, hidden in a Daesh compound.

The information was reported back to the Combined Air Operations Centre via the RAAF E-7A Wedgetail. Upon receiving authorisation to proceed, one of the Hornets employed a precision guided weapon to destroy the target.