Proche et Moyen-Orient : Chammal

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

Irak-Syrie : situation tactique

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

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

Chammal : 3 500 militaires français luttent contre Daech

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

Intensification des opérations aériennes contre les terroristes

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Feb. 3, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted two strikes using remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, ground-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

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

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

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On 3 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL ammunition cache, and an ISIL vehicle in three separate airstrikes conducted south of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On Feb. 2, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using ground-attack, attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, 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 strikes destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL tactical vehicle.

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

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes struck four gas and oil separation plants.

* Near Manbij, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

Iraq

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Bayji, one strike struck [1 British] an ISIL tactical unit.

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

* Near Mosul, three strikes destroyed seven ISIL weapons caches, three ISIL assembly areas, and 14 ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, and an ISIL logistics facility.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes [1 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL recruiting station, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL assembly area, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL fighting positions, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

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

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

2 February: Typhoons worked closely with other coalition aircraft to target a group of terrorists manoeuvring in the open near Ramadi, hitting them with a Paveway IV guided bomb. The Typhoons then flew to the area north of Habbaniyah, where they conducted a Paveway attack on a terrorist-held building. Further north, a pair of Tornado GR4s bombed a Daesh mortar team that was firing on Iraqi troops near Bayji.

Le 1er février 2016, les forces françaises ont mené conjointement avec les avions de la coalition un raid aérien contre Daech, dans la région de Manbij, à une soixantaine de kilomètres au Nord-Est d’Alep en Syrie.

Interallié et interarmées, ce raid était composé d’une vingtaine d’aéronefs américains et français, dont des Rafale de l’armée de l’air provenant des Émirats arabes unis et des Rafale marine qui ont décollé du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle présent dans le Golfe arabo-persique. Il a permis de détruire un site utilisé par Daech comme camp d’entraînement et comme site de stockage d’armement. Les chasseurs français ont frappé leurs objectifs avec des missiles SCALP.

Cette frappe conjointe, franco-américaine, démontre la parfaite interopérabilité entre les moyens des armées de l’air et des marines des deux pays engagés au sein de la coalition contre Daech. Il engageait un nombre d’avions important provenant à la fois des deux porte-avions opérant depuis le golfe arabo-persique et des bases aériennes française et américaine présentes dans la région. Différents armements, bombes et missiles de croisière, ont permis de détruire le site visé lors de cette frappe planifiée.

On Feb. 1, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, 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, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL excavators.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes struck two ISIL gas and oil separation plant well heads.

* Near Manbij, two strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL training facility and destroyed three ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area.

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, three ISIL front end loaders, and an ISIL homemade explosives cache.

* Near Kisik, three strikes [1 British] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL fighting position, and an ISIL mortar system.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL checkpoint and destroyed an ISIL homemade explosives cache.

* Near Qayyarah, six strikes [1 British] struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Ramadi, four strikes [1-2 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL staging areas, an ISIL vehicle, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL weapons cache, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

On Monday 1 February, two Tornados flew reconnaissance and close air support for the Kurdish peshmerga in northern Iraq.

Near Kisik Junction, they used a Brimstone missile and three Paveways to attack three rocket launchers and a Daesh vehicle, then over Qayyarah, a further Brimstone and Paveway destroyed an ammunition truck and a mortar position.

Typhoons operated in the area of Ramadi, where they conducted successful attacks on three terrorist strongpoints.

On Jan. 31, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes using attack and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hawl, one strike [1 British] destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL tunnel systems.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed three ISIL front end loaders.

* Near Manbij, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, two ISIL fighting positions, and two ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Kirkuk, one strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.

* Near Mosul, three strikes [2 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL excavator.

* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes [1 British] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL staging areas, two ISIL rocket rails, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and an ISIL VBIED facility.

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and two ISIL fighting positions.

On Sunday [January 31st], a Tornado GR4 flight provided support to the Iraqi army in and around Ramadi: our aircraft used a Brimstone missile to destroy a large truck-bomb, and three Paveways to destroy terrorist positions, including a heavy machine-gun team which had been previously attacking the Iraqi army.

In northern Iraq, Typhoons conducted two Paveway attacks on a group of terrorists caught in the open near Mosul, and, slightly further south, a Daesh-held building.

A pair of Typhoons also patrolled over eastern Syria, where they employed Paveways to destroy two large clusters of defensive positions.

Nederland gaat ISIS ook in Oost-Syrië bestrijden met gerichte luchtaanvallen. Daarnaast versterkt het kabinet de bijdrage aan de internationale strijd tegen de terreurorganisatie met politieke en humanitaire middelen. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 25 tot en met 31 januari 2016.

Nederlandse F-16’s voerden in Irak ongeveer 10 missies uit. Nederland leidde een missie waarbij doelen werden gebombardeerd. Bij de andere missies, in het noorden en midden van Irak werden gevechtsposities, militaire middelen en strategische doelen van de terreurorganisatie ISIS aangevallen, waaronder een uitgebreid complex voor het maken van Improvised Explosive Devices.

Nederlandse militairen leiden samen met collega’s van coalitielanden Iraakse commando’s en Koerdische strijders op. Die worden getraind om terreurorganisatie ISIS op de grond te bevechten. In Bagdad zijn momenteel diverse opleidingen, zoals een commando-opleiding en een sniperopleiding, in volle gang.

Monthly Australian MoD summary for January 2016 ATG Operations F/A-18 IRAQ Month Sorties Hours Munitions F/A-18F Sep-14 4 10 0 Oct-14 79 638 25 Nov-14 62 489 49 Dec-14 76 586 61 Jan-15 70 601 53 Feb-15 66 541 35 Mar-15 61 496 55 F/A-18F Total 418 3361 278 F/A-18A Mar-15 22 160 8 Apr-15 72 536 43 May-15 66 484 45 Jun-15 72 513 42 Jul-15 66 486 42 Aug-15 74 544 39 Sep-15 60 454 37 Oct-15 78 570 34 Nov-15 70 540 73 Dec-15 73 539 81 Jan-16 74 561 111 F/A-18A Total 727 5387 555 Total 1,145 8,748 833 F/A-18 SYRIA Month Sorties Hours Munitions F/A-18F Sep-14 0 0 0 Oct-14 0 0 0 Nov-14 0 0 0 Dec-14 0 0 0 Jan-15 0 0 0 Feb-15 0 0 0 Mar-15 0 0 0 F/A-18F Total 0 0 0 F/A-18A Mar-15 0 0 0 Apr-15 0 0 0 May-15 0 0 0 Jun-15 0 0 0 Jul-15 0 0 0 Aug-15 0 0 0 Sep-15 18 143 2 Oct-15 0 0 0 Nov-15 0 0 0 Dec-15 10 57 21 Jan-16 6 33 11 F/A-18A Total 34 233 34 Total 34 233 34 AFCENT monthly summary for January 2016

On Jan. 30, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL structure and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL crane.

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

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

Iraq

* Near Al Qaim, one strike [British] destroyed an ISIL front end loader.

* Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, an ISIL fighting position, and cratered an ISIL-used land bridge.

* Near Kirkuk, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tunnel.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL fighting positions, five ISIL assembly areas, and an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Ramadi, seven strikes [1 Canadian, 1-2 British] struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL front end loader, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Tal Afar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

RAF Reapers were in action again on Saturday 30 January. In the area of Ramadi, they conducted two successful attacks with Hellfire missiles against an armoured truck and a mechanical excavator, while a patrol along the border with Syria destroyed another engineering vehicle, used to build defences and attempt repairs to damage from coalition air strikes, near Al Qaim.

On 30 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position northeast of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On Jan. 29, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.

* Near Al Hawl, three strikes [1-2 British] destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, destroyed an ISIL tunnel system, and damaged a separate ISIL fighting position.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant and destroyed an ISIL front end loader, two ISIL excavators, an ISIL crane, an ISIL trenching machine, and an ISIL road grader.

* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

* Near Mar’a, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.

* Near Washiyah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL excavators and damaged a separate ISIL excavator.

Iraq

* Near Al Asad, one strike destroyed two ISIL home-made explosives facilities.

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike destroyed three ISIL rocket rails.

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

* Near Habbaniyah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area and an ISIL vehicle and suppressed an ISIL fighting position and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Mosul, seven strikes [1 British] struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and an ISIL weapons cache.

* Near Ramadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL command and control node and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

On Friday 29 January, Tornado GR4 and Typhoon FGR4s from RAF Akrotiri, supported by a Voyager tanker, flew armed reconnaissance missions over north-east Syria and northern Iraq.

Near Mosul, the Typhoons conducted two attacks with Paveway IV precision guided bombs, striking a group of terrorists and a weapons store.

Across the border in Syria, two pairs of Tornados worked in close cooperation with an RAF Reaper to target a group of Daesh defensive positions and a large tunnel complex with several entrances [at Al Hawl]. The Tornados dropped eight Paveways on the defensive positions and two tunnel entrances, while the Reaper conducted an attack on a third tunnel with its own GBU-12 guided bomb.

On Jan. 28, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter-attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL checkpoint.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant.

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

* Near Mar’a, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and disabled an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Palmyra, one strike struck an ISIL improvised explosives manufacturing area.

Iraq

* Near Al Asad, two strikes struck an ISIL staging area and destroyed an ISIL building.

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

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike [1 British] destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL communications facility.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes [1 Canadian? 2 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL bunker, cratered two ISIL-used roads, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Hit, one strike damaged an ISIL-used bridge.

On 28 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position northwest of Fallujah using precision guided munitions.

The following day [Thursday 28 January] Typhoons in action north of Habbaniyah conducted four successful attacks on Daesh positions, including a heavy machine-gun team. In north-western Iraq, Tornados bombed both a mortar and a heavy machine-gun position, while other Tornados and a Reaper operated east of Ramadi; the GR4s destroyed an armed vehicle, parked under cover, with a Brimstone, and the Reaper used a Hellfire missile to destroy an armoured truck – extensive secondary explosions suggest that it had been converted into a large truck bomb.

On Wednesday 27 January, Typhoon FGR4s patrolled east of Ramadi and used a Paveway to destroy a terrorist armoured personnel carrier, then, north of Habbaniyah, worked with another coalition aircraft to deliver a successful Paveway attack against a group of terrorists engaged in combat with Iraqi troops. In northern Iraq, between Qayyarah and Mosul, a Tornado mission destroyed a Daesh vehicle with a Paveway IV.

Du 20 au 26 janvier 2016, les équipages français ont réalisé 54 sorties aériennes au-dessus des zones contrôlées par Daech en Irak et en Syrie, dont 45 de bombardement en appui des troupes irakiennes au sol, et 4 de recueil de renseignement.

Chammal : 18 frappes et 34 objectifs de Daech détruits en Irak cette semaine

18 frappes ont détruit 34 objectifs de Daech.

17 frappes d’appui au sol ont été réalisées au cours de la semaine.

La force Chammal a concentré ses efforts sur les missions d’appui au sol dans la région de Mossoul où les combattants de Daech sont en posture défensive.

Elle a également appuyé les forces irakiennes dans le secteur de Ramadi, où ces dernières poursuivent leurs opérations de contrôle de la ville.

1 raid planifié a été mené en Irak par les aéronefs de Chammal.

Le 25 janvier, des Mirage 2000 et des Rafale ont délivré leur armement sur un site occupé par Daech situé au nord de Mossoul servant de dépôt de munitions et de lieu de stockage d’armement et de centre de commandement.

On Jan. 27, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Palmyra, one strike [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL improvised explosives manufacturing area.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL cranes and two ISIL workover rigs.

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL building.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL rocket caches, two ISIL rocket rails, four ISIL mortar tubes, an ISIL heavy machine gun, and an ISIL vehicle, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Ramadi, eight strikes [1 British] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL fighting position, and an ISIL mortar position, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL light machine gun, and five ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

On 27 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL Improvised Explosive Device (IED) production factory East of Palmyra, Syria, using precision guided munitions.

On Jan. 26, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes using attack and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed six ISIL workover rigs.

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

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL bunker, and damaged an ISIL vehicle.

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

* Near Kirkuk, two strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL excavator.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes [possibly 1 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL sniper position, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL fuel truck, damaged a separate ISIL vehicle, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

Iraq

* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed ISIL mortar fire.

On 26 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL compound used as a staging area in an airstrike West of Fallujah using precision guided munitions.

On Tuesday 26 January, in the west of Iraq, a pair of GR4s conducted three attacks with Paveway IV guided bombs against a weapons stockpile, a terrorist fighting position, and a truck armed with an anti-aircraft gun. Further north, GR4s provided close air support to Kurdish troops near Kirkuk; a Paveway was used to strike a Daesh-held building. The GR4s then attacked a group of terrorists hidden inside a pair of caves overlooking the Little Zab River. The Tornados launched a pair of Brimstone missiles, which scored direct hits on both of the cave entrances. Meanwhile in Syria, Tornados used six Brimstones to attack mobile cranes south-west of Raqqa, highly valued by Daesh when attempting to repair damage inflicted by air strikes.

On Jan. 25, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hawl, one strike [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit.
* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike [1 British] destroyed two ISIL cranes.
* Near Mar’a, one strike struck an ISIL headquarters building.

Iraq

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL mortar systems.
* Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Mosul, two strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL weapons storage facility and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL weapons cache.
* Near Ramadi, nine strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area, two ISIL tactical vehicles, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL armored bulldozer, an ISIL fuel tanker, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, one strike [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

Monday 25 January saw a further two cranes destroyed by Brimstones, south-west of Raqqa, whilst a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft hit a Daesh position with a Hellfire missile, just on the Syrian side of the border.

In northern Iraq, Tornado GR4s bombed a mortar position and a sniper team which had opened fire on Kurdish forces advancing south of Sinjar.