Nederlandse F-16’s vlogen 10 missies boven Irak en zetten daarbij wapens in tegen wapenopslagplaatsen en vuurposities van terreurorganisatie ISIS. In Bagdad begonnen nieuwe lichtingen aan diverse commando-opleidingen, waaronder de scherpschutterscursus. De Nederlandse trainers kregen daar en in Erbil bezoek van vicepremier en minister van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid Lodewijk Asscher, minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert en Commandant der Strijdkrachten generaal Tom Middendorp.

On Jan. 11, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter and bomber 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 wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Manbij, two strikes [2 British] destroyed two ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike cratered three ISIL-used roads.

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL bridge and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Mosul, eight strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL cash distribution center and destroyed two ISIL command and control nodes, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and 20 ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed an ISIL command and control node and destroyed six ISIL staging areas.

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

* Near Kisik, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL assembly area.

* Near Ramadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), two ISIL front end loaders, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

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

RAF aircraft have also continued very active air operations against Daesh targets inside Syria. On Monday 11 January, a Reaper identified a terrorist check point – one of the methods used by Daesh to attempt to impose their will on the civilian population – and successfully attacked it using a Hellfire missile. The following day [Tuesday 12th January], Reapers maintained surveillance over the oilfields in eastern Syria which have been targeted by coalition air strikes, including by the RAF, to deny Daesh the ability to use the oil to finance their operations. The Reapers identified a mechanical excavator which was being used to attempt repairs, and an oil pump which had evidently been brought back on line, and destroyed both with Hellfire missiles. In north-eastern Syria, Tornado GR4s meanwhile patrolled in the area of Al Hasakah, where they used Paveway IVs to strike two Daesh-held strongpoints.

On Jan. 10, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes using fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and ground-attack fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Coalition military forces conducted one strike in Iraq in support of Coalition operations using fighter aircraft. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIL pipeline fitter truck.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes [2 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL cranes.

* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed an ISIL bed down location, an ISIL command and control node, an ISIL tunnel, and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes [2 British] destroyed three ISIL-used cranes and damaged a separate ISIL-used crane.

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

* Near Mar’a, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Iraq

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

* Near Hit, one strike struck inoperable Coalition equipment denying ISIL access in support of Coalition operations.

* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL warehouse.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL improvised explosive device (IED) facility and destroyed 11 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-used culvert.

* Near Ramadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL mortar positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and two ISIL fighting positions.

On Sunday 10 January, the focus turned to a series of targets inside Syria. Near Raqqa, a pair of Tornados bombed a pair of Daesh-held buildings, one of which was a confirmed command and control centre, and used a Brimstone missile to destroy a supply truck.

A second pair of GR4s dropped four Paveway IVs on a tunnel complex, again near Raqqa, whilst a Reaper engaged a terrorist position with a Hellfire missile. During the evening, a further Tornado flight and a Reaper used a combination of Brimstone and Hellfire missiles to attack a number of mobile cranes brought in by Daesh to attempt to repair the severe damage inflicted by previous RAF and coalition air strikes on the Omar oil field.

A milestone was passed on the morning of Monday 11 January, when an RAF Reaper flew the 1,000th sortie by the type since they were committed to operations against Daesh in October 2014.

On Jan. 9, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using fighter, attack, bomber, 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, fighter, 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 Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIL crane.

* Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

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

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed 16 ISIL skid mounted gas and oil separation plants.

* Near Manbij, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL bunker, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Mar’a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL building.

* Near Washiyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

Iraq

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL building, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Kisik, two strikes destroyed five ISIL assembly areas and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL headquarters building and destroyed an ISIL excavator.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL weapons caches, and two ISIL assembly areas.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL training facility, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL recoilless rifle, wounded three ISIL fighters, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

On Jan. 8, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes using fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery, fighter, 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 Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIL crane and an ISIL workover rig.

* Near Manbij, 12 strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 20 ISIL fighting positions, five ISIL vehicles, two ISIL buildings, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and a separate ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

* Near Haditha, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and four ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Mosul, four strikes [1 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL weapon caches, and three ISIL assembly areas.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes [1 Canadian] struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 21 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL sniper positions, two ISIL recoilless rifles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, two ISIL weapon caches, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck two separate ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL light machine gun.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL-used culvert and an ISIL fighting position.

The next day [January 8th 2016], Tornado GR4s conducted two more Paveway attacks near Mosul, striking rocket and machine-gun teams.

On 8 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIL from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL fighting position southeast of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Mis sous pression par les opérations coordonnées de la Coalition, Daech a perdu l’initiative sur le terrain et recule – en Irak comme en Syrie. Bien qu’il faille conserver à l’esprit que le succès de ces opérations s’inscrira dans le temps long, la situation tactique témoigne d’une amélioration. Militairement, Daech est ainsi depuis quelques semaines sur la défensive et ne peut revendiquer de gains territoriaux d’importance.

Situation tactique en Syrie

Daech est mis en difficulté par les forces locales ainsi que par les frappes de la Coalition. Ces dernières visent en priorité les capacités de commandement , de financement et la logistique de ce groupe terroriste.

Focus : situation tactique en Irak

Appuyées par les raids aériens de la Coalition, les troupes irakiennes maintiennent leurs efforts et obtiennent des gains territoriaux. L’intensification des appuis aériens fournis par la Coalition depuis le mois de novembre ont ainsi rendu possible les offensives sur Baiji, Sinjar et Ramadi.

Depuis novembre 2015 à Baiji, les forces irakiennes consolident les positions reconquises à Daech et luttent contre des poches de résistances.

La Coalition maintient un effort sur les zones clés du terrain dans le nord du pays – plus particulièrement entre Sinjar et Mossoul. Il s’agit de contrôler l’axe reliant Mossoul à Raqqah, afin d’asphyxier les flux logistiques de l’organisation terroriste.

Opérations en cours : reprise progressive de Ramadi

A Ramadi, les forces irakiennes sont en train de reprendre progressivement le contrôle de la ville qui était tenue par Daech depuis le 18 mai 2015 . Après avoir pénétré dans les faubourgs , elles sont aujourd’hui en train de s’emparer du centre-ville. Cette opération prendra du temps, car Daech tient la ville depuis 6 mois.

De mai à décembre 2015, la force Chammal a réalisé 49 frappes au profit des troupes au sol engagées dans la conquête de Ramadi.

En complément de ces opérations aériennes, la Coalition et les forces françaises sont engagées dans la formation des forces irakiennes – en particulier celles de l’ICTS qui prennent part au combat en cours dans Ramadi.

2 500 militaires irakiens formés par les soldats français en 2015

En 2015, 2 500 militaires irakiens ont été formés par les forces françaises.

Cette formation est assurée à Bagdad et Erbil. Elle porte sur des instructions spécialisées et repose sur 2 piliers complémentaires.

• A Bagdad, pour l’ICTS, l’objectif visé est de former aux savoir-faire tactiques et techniques sur des domaines indispensables aux combats menés contre Daech : combat en zone urbaine, lutte contre les engins explosifs improvisés (IED), sauvetage au combat, combat d’infanterie.
• Pour l’état-major de la 6e division d’infanterie de l’armée irakienne, les forces françaises conseillent l’état-major sur la planification et la conduite des opérations et assurent la formation de formateurs irakiens.

Irak-Syrie : bilan des opérations aériennes de Chammal

Du 16 décembre 2015 au mardi 05 janvier 2016, les équipages français ont réalisé 209 sorties aériennes au-dessus des zones contrôlées par Daech en Irak et en Syrie, dont:

– 159 de bombardement en appui des troupes irakiennes au sol ou sur objectif planifié ;

– 25 de recueil de renseignement;

– 18 opérations de ravitaillement en vol.

Au total, 52 frappes ont permis de détruire 96 objectifs de Daech. En 3 semaines, 48 frappes d’appui au sol ont été réalisées au profit des troupes irakiennes et 4 raids ont été menés sur des objectifs planifiés en Irak et en Syrie :

• le 19 décembre 2015 en Syrie, les Mirage 2000 et les Rafale de l’armée de l’air ont frappé un site de production pétrolière dans la région de Raqqah ;
• le 22 décembre 2015, les Super-Etendard du GAN ont frappé en Irak un centre logistique situé entre Ramadi et Fallujah ;
• le 1er janvier, des Mirage 2000 ont frappé deux installations pétrolières dans le Sud de Raqqah en Syrie ;
• le 02 janvier, des Rafale ont détruit un centre de production et de stockage d’armement au Nord-Est d’Alep en Syrie avec des missiles SCALP.

Bilan depuis le début de l’engagement au Levant

Depuis le 19 septembre 2014 : 2839 sorties, 399 frappes, 730 objectifs neutralisés par les forces armées françaises de l’opération Chammal.

On Jan. 7, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes using fighter, and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery, fighter, and bomber aircraft against ISIL targets. Coalition military forces conducted one strike in Iraq in support of Coalition operations using fighter aircraft. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed a separate ISIL fighting position.

* Near Manbij, one strike destroyed three ISIL staging areas.

Iraq

* Near Al Qaim, one strike struck inoperable Coalition equipment denying ISIL access in support of Coalition operations.

* Near Haditha, two strikes [Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Irbil, one strike suppressed an ISIL heavy machine gun position.

* Near Kisik, two strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Mosul, seven strikes [1 British] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tunnel, four ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL command and control node.

* Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL petroleum refinery.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes [ 1 or 2 British and 1 or 2 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 16 ISIL fighting positions, 13 ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL obstacle, an ISIL improvised explosive device (IED) cluster, an ISIL house borne IED (HBIED), 11 ISIL vehicle borne IED (VBIED) facilities, three ISIL staging areas, two ISIL sniper positions, two ISIL tunnel entrances, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, one strike suppressed an ISIL light machine gun position.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL assembly areas, and an ISIL command and control node.

Operations over Ramadi continued on Thursday 7 January, with Typhoons delivering six successful Paveway IV attacks on Daesh positions, including two more machine-gun teams.

In the north, the Tornados were likewise again patrolling over Mosul and Kisik, and these missions used Paveways against a group of extremists and a rocket position.

On 7 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIL from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIL facility used as a staging area and for vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) storage in Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On 7 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIL fighting positions southeast of Haditha using precision guided munitions.

On Jan. 6, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes using fighter, attack, and bomber aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery, 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 Manbij, 14 strikes destroyed 24 ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL buildings, suppressed an ISIL vehicle’s movement, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes struck an ISIL staging facility and an ISIL weapons cache.

* Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike destroyed 30 ISIL rockets, an ISIL rocket rail, and an ISIL building.

* Near Habbaniyah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL buildings, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL tactical vehicle.

* Near Haditha, one strike [British and Canadian] struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL fighting position, two ISIL vehicles, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

* Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL VBIED factory.

* Near Mosul, four strikes [1 British] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 11 ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL bed down locations, an ISIL tunnel, and four ISIL assembly areas.

* Near Ramadi, six strikes [2 British] struck two large ISIL tactical units and destroyed 13 ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL heavy machine guns, four ISIL VBIED staging facilities, an ISIL staging area, three ISIL buildings, three ISIL tactical vehicles, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

Additionally, one strike from Jan. 5 was not included on the Jan. 6 strike release.

Iraq

* Near Ramadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building, and cratered an ISIL used road.

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Jan. 5, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter, attack, ground-attack, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL headquarters building.

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Jan. 4, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Jan. 3, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted one strike using attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 25 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed five ISIL buildings.

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Jan. 2, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using fighter and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant and destroyed an ISIL technical vehicle, an ISIL excavator, two ISIL front end loaders, and damaged a separate ISIL front end loader.

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

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

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

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, one strike struck an ISIL-used bridge.[see video below]

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

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

Iraq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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