Another Tornado patrol, on Sunday 29 March, provided close air support to Iraqi forces near Tikrit, and the accuracy of the Brimstone missile system allowed a successful attack to be conducted on a terrorist armoured personnel carrier positioned under a road bridge.

On March 28, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter aircraft to conduct an airstrike. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 14 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 28, and 8 a.m., March 29, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

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

Iraq

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

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

* Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL building.

* Near Tal Afar, three airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, an ISIL storage facility, an ISIL fighting position and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Tikrit, six airstrikes struck six ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery weapon.

On March 27, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using attack, fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 18 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 27, and 8 a.m., March 28, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroyed two anti-aircraft artillery machine guns, three ISIL vehicles, one excavator, and damaged one ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

* Near Tikrit, eight airstrikes struck two large ISIL units and one ISIL tactical unit, destroyed one ISIL vehicle, one ISIL vehicle borne explosive device, and destroyed 11 and damaged one fighting positions.

* Near Fallujah, three airstrikes struck one ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two anti-aircraft artillery guns and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, three airstrikes destroyed two IED construction/facilitation buildings, one other building, an armored vehicle, and one fighting position [British].

* Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed one machine gun, one building and one excavator.

* Near Ar Rutbah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Bayji, one airstrike struck one ISIL tactical unit.

On 27 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck ISIL fighting positions southwest of Fallujah by using precision guided munitions.

Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri conducted an armed reconnaissance mission on Friday 27 March in the Mosul area, in the course of which they identified an excavator being used by ISIL to construct defensive positions against continuing Iraqi and Kurdish offensives to liberate the local population from oppression by the terrorists. A Brimstone missile made a direct hit on the vehicle, destroying it.

On March 26, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using attack, fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct six airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 10 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 26, and 8 a.m., March 27, local time.

Syria

* Near Kobani, six airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL vehicles, two ISIL anti-aircraft artillery weapons and an ISIL excavator.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery weapon.

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery weapon.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building.

* Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL buildings, an anti-aircraft artillery weapon and an ISIL mortar position.

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

* Near Tikrit, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL VBIED.

March 26th 2014 – Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) defeated four separate ISIL attacks across Iraq March 24. The ISF carried out these successful counterattacks in the areas of Kisik, western Kirkuk, Bayji and Habbaniyah. In Habbaniyah, ISIL unsuccessfully employed two VBIEDs and 12 suicide bombers in an effort to retake the Habbaniyah Bridge, based on initial reports. No ground was gained by ISIL in these attempts.

“The tables are turning,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR spokesman. “ISF is gaining ground and their capabilities continue to improve.”

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve supported the ISF and Peshmerga fighters’ defense through airstrikes, ongoing advise and assist operations, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR.

Meanwhile, In Syria, anti-ISIL forces seized several ISIL-controlled villages just south of Kobani.

The CJTF-OIR Coalition will continue supporting efforts on behalf of all Iraqi Security Forces and the Government of Iraq, to attack and defeat ISIL. Iraqi Security Forces continue to make gains throughout Iraq and are postured to retake additional territory from ISIL.

Overnight on Wednesday 25 March the UK and other coalition nations provided support to Iraqi ground forces in western Tikrit who are continuing their offensive against ISIL. Tornado GR4s, supported by a Voyager tanker, used Paveway IV precision guided bombs to attack three ISIL strongholds.

On 25 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL compound northeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On March 25, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter, attack and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 24 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 25, and 8 a.m., March 26, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike struck an ISIL military garrison.

* Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, five ISIL fighting positions and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

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

* Near Fallujah, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL checkpoint and an ISIL staging area.

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike struck an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Tikrit, 17 airstrikes struck multiple ISIL buildings, two ISIL bridges, three ISIL checkpoints, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL berms, an ISIL roadblock and an ISIL command and control facility.

March 26th 2014 – Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve operations in support of Iraqi Security Forces in Tikrit commenced last night after a request from the Government of Iraq. In Tikrit, Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 17 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

Tikrit, Iraq

* In Tikrit, 17 airstrikes struck an ISIL building, two ISIL bridges, three ISIL checkpoints, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL berms, an ISIL roadblock and an ISIL controlled command and control facility.

“The ongoing Iraqi and Coalition air strikes are setting the conditions for offensive action to be conducted by Iraqi forces currently surrounding Tikrit,” said Lt. Gen. James Terry. “Iraqi Security Forces supported by the Coalition will continue to gain territory from Daesh.”

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The destruction of ISIL targets in Iraq further limits the terrorist group’s ability to project terror and conduct operations.

On March 24, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 14 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 24, and 8 a.m., March 25, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, five airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, an ISIL vehicle and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL vehicles.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, five airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL armored vehicle.

* Near Fallujah, five airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck four ISIL tactical units, an ISIL vehicle and destroyed two ISIL excavators and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL modular oil refinery, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL machine guns and an ISIL building.

* Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, an ISIL tactical unit, two ISIL machine guns and destroyed an ISIL mortar system and an ISIL building.

March 25th – CJTF-OIR operations to support Iraqi Security Forces in Tikrit have commenced after a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi. The Coalition is now providing direct support to Iraqi Security Forces conducting operations to expel ISIL from the city. CJTF-OIR is providing air strikes, airborne intelligence capabilities, and Advise and Assist support to Iraqi Security Force headquarters elements in order to enhance their ability to defeat ISIL.

“These strikes are intended to destroy ISIL strongholds with precision, thereby saving innocent Iraqi lives while minimizing collateral damage to infrastructure,” said Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, CJTF-OIR commanding general. “This will further enable Iraqi forces under Iraqi command to maneuver and defeat ISIL in the vicinity of Tikrit.”

Iraqi Security Forces have ISIL in Tikrit encircled. Renewed efforts on the ground supported by the Coalition are aimed at dislodging ISIL fighting elements from Tikrit and once again placing the town under the Government of Iraq control. The CJTF-OIR Coalition will continue supporting the Iraqi Security Forces and the GoI, to degrade and defeat ISIL.

On 24 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and heavy engineering equipment north of Fallujah by using precision guided munitions.

De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 17. marts fløjet 10 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 primært deltaget i missioner i Al Anbar. Målene for bomberne har været fjendtlige styrker.

De danske fly har fløjet Close Air Support-missioner (CAS), hvor flyene er indsat direkte 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.

Siden første mission de 16. oktober 2014, har det danske bidrag i alt fløjet 253 missioner og anvendt 194 bomber. Alle de danske bomber er præcisionsstyrede, hvilket vil sige, at de styres mod deres mål ved hjælp af enten laser eller GPS.

Het Nederlandse F-16-detachement in het Midden-Oosten stond tijdens een bijzonder appel stil bij de in Mali verongelukte collega’s.

Afgelopen week vlogen de gevechtstoestellen 20 missies boven Irak. Ze zetten 9 keer wapens in tegen doelen van terreurorganisatie ISIS.

On March 23, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct six airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using fighter and attack aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 23, and 8 a.m., March 24, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, six airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL checkpoint.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL shipping containers.

* Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL excavators.

*Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

* Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL IED and VBIED storage facility and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday 24 March, an RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft provided support to Iraqi units operating in the western province of Anbar. Hellfire missiles were used against an ISIL vehicle and two positions.

On March 22, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct eight airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted six airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using fighter aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 22, and 8 a.m., March 23, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, eight airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Mosul, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

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

* Near Rawah, an airstrike struck an ISIL trailer.

* Near Sinjar, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL staging area and an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

On 22 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL staging area in Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

Enfin, le 22 mars, la force Chammal, en appui de Peshmergas, a neutralisé une trentaine de combattants qui étaient abrités dans un immeuble dans la région de Sinjar.

On March 21, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using bomber and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, U.S. and Coalition military forces conducted five airstrikes approved by the Iraq Ministry of Defense, using attack and fighter aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 21, and 8 a.m., March 22, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike destroyed an armored personnel carrier.

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, three ISIL vehicles and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

* Near Mosul, three airstrikes destroyed two ISIL excavators and an ISIL shipping container.

* Near Ramadi, two airstrike [1 French] destroyed an ISIL homemade explosive cache, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL building.

Le lendemain [March 21st 2015], les avions français, en appui des forces irakiennes au contact au sol, ont neutralisé un poste de combat situé sur un immeuble dans la région de Ramadi.

On March 20, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using bomber aircraft to conduct three airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and Coalition military forces conducted seven airstrikes in Iraq, using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 20, and 8 a.m., March 21, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, one ISIL vehicle, one large ISIL machine gun, and one ISIL machine gun.

Iraq

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed one ISIL storage facility and neutralized one ISIL rocket site, one ISIL RPG position, one ISIL large machine gun, and one ISIL mortar.

* Near Kirkuk, one airstrike destroyed one ISIL fighting position, one ISIL tank and one ISIL excavator.

* Near Hit in Al Anbar Province, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Ramadi, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL building.

* Near Taji, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL armored vehicles.

* Near Bayji, one airstrike destroyed two tactical units.

Le 20 mars, une patrouille a tiré sur un bâtiment abritant une fabrique d’IED dans la région de Ramadi, alors qu’une seconde patrouille a détruit deux camions suicides dans la région de Bagdad.

On March 19, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using bomber aircraft to conduct an airstrike. Separately, U.S. and Coalition military forces conducted seven airstrikes in Iraq, using attack and fighter aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 19, and 8 a.m., March 20, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Kobani, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Al Hawayjah, an airstrike struck an ISIL IED factory.

* Near Bayji, an airstrike struck an ISIL weapons assembly area.

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

* Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL rocket site, an ISIL heavy machine gun [British] and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL excavators.

Overnight on 19/20 March, another GR4 patrol came to the assistance of peshmerga advancing north-east of Mosul. Working closely with the Kurdish forces, despite difficult weather, our aircraft were able to conduct precision attacks with two Paveway IV bombs against an ISIL heavy machine gun and weapon positions.

Cette semaine, la force Chammal a réalisé 117 sorties aériennes, dont dix ont abouti à des frappes au sol. Plusieurs véhicules armés et logistiques ont été détruits par les aéronefs français, ainsi qu’un véhicule suicide dans la région de Kirkouk. Les avions français ont également ciblé des combattants à plusieurs reprises ainsi que du matériel d’artillerie.

Parallèlement, un avion E-3F Awacs a rejoint Al Udeid, au Qatar, dimanche 15 mars, avant de réaliser sa première mission trois jours plus tard. Sous contrôle opérationnel américain et en collaboration avec les pays alliés, il assure des fonctions de Command and Control au sein de la coalition. Il s’agit du deuxième déploiement de cet aéronef qui a déjà été engagé dans l’opération Chammal de fin octobre à mi-novembre 2014.

Concernant le volet terrestre de l’opération Chammal, les actions de formation ont débuté le 7 mars au profit d’une cinquantaine de stagiaires de l’Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS).

On March 18, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using fighter, attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and Coalition military forces conducted 12 airstrikes in Iraq, using attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., March 18, and 8 a.m., March 19, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units.

* Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL tank and an ISIL armored personnel carrier.

* Near Kobani, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Iraq

* Near Ar Rutbah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Fallujah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL-controlled bridge and destroyed a different ISIL-controlled bridge.

* Near Hit in Al Anbar Province, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Kirkuk, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL building [Canadian] and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL pieces of engineer equipment [Canadian?] and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL bridges, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL building and an ISIL tunnel system.

* Near Sinjar, an airstrike had inconclusive results.

On 19 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL Improvised Explosives Device (IED) factory west of Kirkuk by using precision guided munitions.

On 19 March 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck ISIL equipment and fighting positions northeast of Mosul by using precision guided munitions.