On Christmas Day [December 25th 2014], a Tornado patrol returned to the Al Qaim area, tasked with investigating a checkpoint used by ISIL to stop the local civilian population from moving around freely. 2 Brimstone missiles were used to attack a fortified position and a shipping container which had been converted into a guard room.

A second pair of GR4s operated further east, and located two armed ISIL vehicles concealed amidst trees on farmland close to the Euphrates, south of the Hadithah Dam. Both vehicles were struck with Brimstones.

December 24th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 24 using fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct ten airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted seven airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 24 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani, eight airstrikes destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL building, an ISIL staging position, and also struck three ISIL tactical units, an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Dayr az Zawr, an airstrike struck a crude oil collection point.

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike struck an ISIL weapons stockpile.

Iraq

* Near Al Qaim, three airstrikes [one Canada] destroyed eight ISIL tactical vehicles and an ISIL storage container.

* Near Sinjar, two airstrikes [including France?] destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and struck an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL technical vehicle.

All aircraft returned to base safely [this line was later removed with confirmation that a Jordanian F-16 had crashed at Ar Raqqah]. Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.

Le 24 décembre, deux chasseurs appelés en renfort au-dessus de la ville de Kirkouk dans le nord de l’Irak, ont porté assistance aux Peshmergas pris à partie au sol par des combattants de Daesh. Après accord du CAOC (Coordination Air Operation Center), l’un des chasseurs a fait feu sur le bâtiment neutralisant ainsi les terroristes ce qui a mis fin à l’attaque.

On December 24, two CF-188 Hornets fighter aircraft successfully struck an ISIL position located in the vicinity of Al Qa’im, approximately 330 km north west of Baghdad, with a precision guided munition.

Wednesday [Dec 24th] saw both Tornados and Reaper aircraft providing support to the Kurdish peshmerga, as they consolidated their recent victories over ISIL. A Tornado patrol identified an ISIL armed vehicle at a large former Iraqi military compound, and attacked it with a Brimstone missile.

Meanwhile, a Reaper provided overwatch to a US air strike that destroyed a truck which had been converted into a large suicide bomb vehicle, then fired a Hellfire missile at a pick-up truck being used by ISIL to build a road-block of burning tyres.

December 23rd 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 23 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted three airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 23 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani, six airstrikes destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL building and struck several ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Barghooth, an airstrike struck ISIL oil collection equipment.

Iraq

* Near Sinjar, two airstrikes [1 British] destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck a mortar and an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Al Asad, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

On 23 December, Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s, operating out of RAF Akrotiri, conducted an armed reconnaissance mission near Al Qaim, close to the border between Syria and Iraq. 4 ISIL armed pick-up trucks were identified, widely dispersed, near a quarry. They were successfully engaged using a combination of Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV guided bombs.

December 22nd 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 22 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct twelve airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted ten airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 22 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against the ISIL terrorists. These engagements were in support of the 7th Iraqi Army, local police and tribal fighters engaged in fighting with ISIL forces in the vicinity of Dulab. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani, six airstrikes destroyed six ISIL fighting positions and struck four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Aleppo, three airstrikes destroyed artillery equipment and struck ten ISIL buildings.

* Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, two ISIL trucks, an ISIL building, and two ISIL storage containers.

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL checkpoint complex.

Iraq

* Near Sinjar, three airstrikes destroyed three ISIL tactical vehicles, three ISIL trucks, five ISIL buildings and struck two large ISIL units and an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Al Asad, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and struck two ISIL tactical units.

* Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Ramadi, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL building and struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Mosul, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL buildings and struck a weapons factory complex [Canada].

On 21 December [Dec 22nd, according to the US], two CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL weapons facility in Fallujah with precision-guided munitions. These buildings function as production and storage facilities for vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices – weapons commonly used by ISIL against Iraqi security forces.

December 21st 2014 – US and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 21 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct three airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted thirteen airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 21 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL staging position and two ISIL fighting positions and struck two ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

* Near Sinjar, four airstrikes destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL mortar position and three ISIL tactical vehicles and struck a large ISIL unit and two ISIL tactical units.

* Near Bayji, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL buildings and struck a large and a tactical ISIL unit.

* Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL VBIED.

* Near Ramadi, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL vehicles and struck a large ISIL unit and a tactical ISIL unit.

* Near Mosul, an airstrike destroyed three ISIL bunkers and struck three ISIL bunkers.

* Near Al Qaim, an airstrike struck an ISIL building.

* Near al Asad, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical vehicle.

De Nederlandse F-16’s die meedoen aan de strijd tegen ISIS vlogen tussen de 10 en 20 missies boven Irak. Ze zetten daarbij geregeld wapens in tegen doelen van de terroristische organisatie. Een overzicht van Defensie-operaties in de week van 15 tot en met 21 december.

Nederland stelt 8 F-16’s beschikbaar voor aanvallen op ISIS op Iraaks grondgebied. Daarmee draagt de Koninklijke Luchtmacht bij aan de internationale strijd tegen ISIS. Nederlandse jachtvliegtuigen zijn de afgelopen dagen voortdurend ingezet voor de strijd tegen de terreurorganisatie om de bevolking op Mount Sinjar een vrije doorgang te geven. Koerdische Peshmerga brachten strijders van ISIS met steun van de coalitie hier de afgelopen dagen een nederlaag toe.

De 250 Nederlandse militairen kregen bezoek van Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten luitenant-generaal Sander Schnitger. “Vanuit het Midden-Oosten, 24 uur per dag, 7 dagen per week, zorgt u ervoor dat de opmars van ISIS een halt wordt toegeroepen. Die opmars vormt een directe bedreiging voor de regio en veroorzaakt instabiliteit aan de grenzen van Europa”, zei hij aan het begin van zijn kerstbezoek.

Vanuit Nederland vertrokken de eerste militairen naar Irak om de komst van de trainers voor te bereiden. Dat gebeurde op locaties in Erbil en Bagdad.

In Anbar province, where the Iraqi army is conducting a number of offensive operations, RAF Tornados GR4s on an armed reconnaissance mission were tasked to investigate a group of vehicles near Ar Rutbah in the early hours of Saturday morning [December 20th]. Four ISIL armoured personnel carriers were identified and successfully attacked with Brimstone missiles.

Deux jours plus tard [December 20th 2014], à la demande des forces de sécurité irakiennes prises à partie au sol par des combattants de Daech, deux avions de combat sont à nouveau intervenus dans la région de Baïji, dans le Nord de l’Irak. Les équipages ont tout de suite identifié les combattants de Daech faisant feu sur les forces de sécurité irakiennes.

La patrouille a poursuivi sa surveillance et informé la chaîne de commandement en temps réel. Après accord du CAOC (Coordination Air Operation Center), un des deux appareils a fait feu sur un poste de combat terroriste afin de neutraliser la menace.

December 20th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 20 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted eight airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 20 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

Near Kobani, five airstrikes destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

Near Tal Afar, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL mortar, six ISIL technical vehicles and struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL checkpoint.

Near Ar Rutbah, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint and four ISIL tactical vehicles [British] and damaged an ISIL storage container.

Near Mosul, an airstrike destroyed seven ISIL machine guns and two ISIL bunkers [possibly Canadian? See below].

Near Bayji, an airstrike [French] destroyed three ISIL buildings and struck a large ISIL unit.

On December 20, while taking part in coalition missions in support of Iraqi security forces ground operations in an area northwest of Mosul, two CF-188 Hornets used precision guided munitions to damage an ISIL Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).‬ The VBIED was positioned on a roadside, posing a direct threat to the safety and security of Iraqi security forces operating in the region.

December 19th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 19 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted eleven airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 19 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft [and RPAS according to the UK] against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL staging area and struck two ISIL tactical units.

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike damaged an ISIL training compound.

Iraq

* Near Al Asad, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL building and mortar and struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and damaged an ISIL bridge.

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Al Qaim, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL tactical vehicles.

* Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units.

* Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit [but see UK below]

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike [Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit

December 19th 2014 – The peshmerga offensive has been assisted by considerable coalition air support, including from the RAF. A Reaper played its part last night by providing surveillance for an advancing Kurdish unit. The Reaper conducted three strikes this morning [December 19th] with Hellfire missiles on ISIL fighting positions.

On December 19, two CF-188 Hornets successfully struck ISIL elements including vehicles and a fortified rocket emplacement with precision guided munitions in the vicinity of Tal Afar which is located between Sinjar and Mosul. The airstrikes were part of a larger coalition mission in the Sinjar region to support Iraqi security forces’ efforts to reach internally displaced civilians stranded in the Sinjar Mountains.

December 18th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 18 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct six airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted five airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 18 using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft [and RPAS] against the ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of those strikes:

Syria

* Near Kobani – six airstrikes destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL building and also struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

* Near Tal Afar– [French?] two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul- two airstrikes struck two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL Tactical unit [1 British?].

* Near Ramadi- an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

On Thursday [Dec 18th], remotely piloted Reapers flew armed reconnaissance missions over Iraq in support of both the Iraqi Army and the Kurdish peshmerga. One Reaper patrol was tasked to locate a group of ISIL terrorists who had fired on advancing Iraqi troops. The Reaper spotted the terrorists planting a number of improvised explosive devices and successfully attacked with a Hellfire missile.

Le 18 décembre, au cours d’une mission de reconnaissance armée au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes, deux avions de chasse français sont intervenus dans la région du Mont Sinjar. Une trentaine de combattants de Daech prenait à partie des Peshmergas, combattants kurdes. « Equipés de jumelles à vision nocturne, nous avons constaté des tirs de balles traçantes ainsi qu’un groupe posant des engins explosifs improvisés, explique le pilote. En coordination avec les alliés présents dans la zone, la patrouille a neutralisé ces combattants de Daech grâce à deux frappes.

December 17th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec. 15-17 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct six airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted 61 airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 15-17 using fighter, bomber, attack, and remotely-piloted aircraft against the ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL mortar and struck two ISIL tactical units, two additional buildings and two ISIL fighting positions.

Near Abu Kamal, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.

In Iraq, eight airstrikes near Mosul [including by French] destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, three ISIL buildings, one ISIL mortar position, one ISIL bulldozer and an ISIL bunker and also struck a large ISIL unit and an ISIL tactical unit.

Near Tal-Afar, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL building and three ISIL bridges and also struck an ISIL tactical unit [British strike reported between Mosul and Tal Afar].

Near Sinjar, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL guard towers, three ISIL containers and one ISIL storage container [one strike French].

Near Hit, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and an excavator.

Near Rawa, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL building and a storage container [British].Near Irbil, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck an ISIL tactical unit. Near Ramadi, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL building.

An additional 45 strikes were conducted in support of the Peshmerga (KSF) and Iraqi security forces operating in the region [France defines this as Mount Sinjar while the UK refers to an area between Mosul and Tal Afar]. Precision airstrikes from 15 coalition aircraft destroyed approximately 50 targets, to include bulldozers, vehicles, checkpoints, enemy fighting positions, enemy fighters, and equipment [operation includes France, UK, Canada].

The early hours of Wednesday morning [December 17th 2014] saw UK Tornados join other coalition aircraft as the peshmerga mounted a further offensive. They conducted a carefully coordinated attack, again using Paveway IV bombs, on a line of trenches, bunkers and gun emplacements constructed by ISIL between Mosul and Tal Afar in an attempt to hold up the Kurdish advance.

The same Tornado patrol then flew 150 miles south to provide support for an additional offensive against ISIL in Anbar province. They were tasked to destroy a checkpoint near Rawah, used by the terrorists to deny local people any freedom of movement along a major road.An attack was conducted with a Brimstone missile on a guard room and equipment store used by those manning the checkpoint.

On 17 December, while taking part in coalition missions in support of Iraqi security forces ground operations conducted in an area north-west of Mosul, two CF-188 Hornets successfully struck two ISIL fighting positions with precision-guided munitions.

Le 15 décembre, une patrouille a été sollicitée afin de détruire une cible d’opportunité sur les contreforts du Mont Sinjar dans le Nord-Ouest de l’Irak, où les combattants irakiens, kurdes et yézidis s’unissent pour défendre la zone convoitée par les terroristes du groupe Daech.

Enfin, le 16 décembre, une patrouille a de nouveau été sollicitée par le CAOC afin de détruire un objectif dans la région de Mossoul.

Le 17 décembre, deux chasseurs ont participé à un raid de la coalition dans la région du Mont Sinjar. Ce raid aérien, planifié, regroupait 17 avions de la coalition et visait la destruction d’une ligne de défense de Daech avec la neutralisation de près d’une soixantaine d’objectifs. Au cours de ce vol d’environ 3h20, les deux chasseurs ont porté leurs frappes sur les objectifs qui leur étaient assignés.

December 15th 2014 – U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Dec 13-15 using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct nine airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted nine airstrikes in Iraq Dec. 13-15 using fighter, bomber, attack, and remotely-piloted aircraft against the ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, eight airstrikes near Kobani destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL buildings, two ISIL staging positions and also struck another ISIL fighting position.

Near abu-Kamal, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

In Iraq, three airstrikes near Mosul destroyed an ISIL fighting position and struck three tactical ISIL units and suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position [includes France Dec 12th].

Near Sinjar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL compound and struck a second ISIL compound.

Near Hit, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle, a trailer and an excavator.

Near al-Qaim, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck two ISIL vehicles [British].

Near Samarra, an airstrike stuck a tactical ISIL unit.

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

December 12th 2014 – A RAF Reaper conducted armed reconnaissance in northern Iraq, where ISIL are facing increasing pressure from the Kurdish peshmerga.The Reaper’s mission focused on engineering equipment being used by the terrorists to construct defensive positions to hold up peshmerga advances.The remotely piloted aircraft was able to locate 2 of these engineer vehicles, and attacked them with Hellfire missiles.

Further south, another Reaper identified an ISIL armed pick-up truck and engaged it with a Hellfire missile.

RAF Tornado GR4s were also providing surveillance for the Iraqi army in Anbar province, and were able to assist Iraqi soldiers engaged in a firefight with terrorists near Ramadi. Paveway precision guided bombs and Brimstone missiles were used to deal with ISIL fighting positions and 3 vehicles, including 2 armoured personnel carriers.

Le 12 décembre, les aéronefs ont porté trois frappes au Nord de l’Irak, dans la région Ouest et Nord-Est de Mossoul, permettant la destruction de caches de munitions ainsi que de groupes de combattants de Daech.