On Wednesday 25 November, a particular focus for RAF air operations was over northern Iraq, assisting the Kurdish peshmerga who recently inflicted a significant defeat on the Da’ish extremists at Sinjar.

During the morning, two Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri patrolled near Mosul, and conducted three precision attacks with Paveway IV guided bombs on groups of terrorist fighters.

In addition, a terrorist vehicle was destroyed by a direct hit from a Brimstone missile.

The Tornados then flew west to the area south-east of Sinjar, where a fourth Paveway strike destroyed a Da’ish heavy machine-gun position.

A second Tornado patrol continued to support the Kurdish ground operations into the night, and it used a Paveway to destroy a heavy machine-gun position to the south-west of Sinjar. The GR4s were supported, as normal, by a Voyager air tanker.

Meanwhile, an RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft was also providing overwatch for the Kurdish troops, using its advanced surveillance sensors, and its crew conducted a successful attack with a GBU-12 guided bomb on a building in a terrorist-held compound near Mosul.

Other RAF aircraft making a vital contribution to the air campaign include the Sentinel and Air Seeker surveillance aircraft. These make up a large percentage of the coalition’s overall ability to collect strategic intelligence on terrorist activity in Iraq and Syria, and complement well the sophisticated tactical reconnaissance capabilities of the Tornado and Reaper.

On 25 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes to increase Iraqi security forces’ freedom of movement in the region, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On Nov. 24, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes using 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 bomber, fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

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

Syria

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

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

• Near Mar’a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

• Near Bayji, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL building.

• Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

• Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Makhmur, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL building, and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.

• Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

• Near Ramadi, six strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL sniper position, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL home-made explosives (HME) cache, five ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL building, and wounded two ISIL fighters. [see video below]

• Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and five ISIL bunkers.

• Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL headquarters.

Le mardi 24 novembre 2015 à 19h30 (heure française), les chasseurs français ont été de engagés au-dessus de l’Irak depuis le porte-avions Charles-de-Gaulle. Avec des aéronefs de l’US air force, les quatre Rafale Marine ont frappé des capacités de commandement et de formation de Daech. Le raid conjoint a détruit les cibles visées à Tall Afar.

Catapultés depuis la Méditerranée orientale (MEDOR) en fin d’après-midi, les quatre chasseurs ont détruit un centre de commandement et d’entraînement actif occupé par les combattants terroristes à Tall Afar. Conduit conjointement avec des aéronefs de l’US air force, le raid a duré près de 5 heures. Au total, 20 bombes ont été délivrées.

Cette nouvelle mission du groupe aéronaval (GAN) a pu être conduite grâce aux vols de renseignement préalablement réalisés au-dessus de l’Irak par la coalition et les aéronefs de l’armée de l’air déployés en Jordanie et dans le golfe Arabo-Persique (GAP).

Ces missions aériennes ont pour objectif d’affaiblir les capacités militaires de Daech et de participer à la reprise des territoires contrôlés par les terroristes.

Nederlandse F-16’s, actief in de strijd tegen ISIS in het Midden-Oosten, vlogen ongeveer 10 missies. Ze bestookten een hoofdkwartier en opslagplaatsen van ISIS. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 16 tot en met 22 november.

On Nov. 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 9 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 rocket artillery and bomber, fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL tactical vehicle, and two ISIL vehicles.

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

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL vehicle staging area.

* Near Mar’a, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL artillery piece, and an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

* Near Al Baghdadi, one strike stuck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area and an ISIL building.

* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL VBIED and three ISIL fighting positions.

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

* Near Ramadi, eight strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL excavator, an ISIL bunker, five ISIL weapons caches, five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL buildings, an ISIL mortar position, an ISIL IED, an ISIL staging area, damaged three ISIL entrenchments, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

* Near Sinjar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one ISIL fighting position and an ISIL supply cache.

* Near Sultan Abdallah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun and three ISIL fighting positions.

Le 23 novembre 2015, la force Chammal a réalisé sa 300e frappe sur Daech. Les objectifs visés étaient à Ramadi, une ville située à 100 km à l’Ouest de Bagdad qui fait l’objet de combats appuyés depuis plusieurs semaines. Elle a permis de détruire des bâtiments, des positions de tirs et des plots de ravitaillement, soit un spectre assez large des capacités de Daech. Ordonnée pour soutenir les troupes irakiennes qui étaient prises sous le feu ennemi, cette frappe leur a permis de poursuivre l’encerclement de la ville.
Les objectifs ont été détruits par un Mirage 2000N (M2000N), avion de combat jusqu’alors exclusivement réservé à la dissuasion nucléaire et utilisé pour la première fois en opération extérieure. Le déploiement de ce type d’avions pour Chammal est un signe fort de l’engagement de la France dans la lutte contre Daech. Il s’agissait seulement du 2evol d’un M2000N avec une configuration emportant simultanément quatre bombes guidées laser GBU 12. Jusqu’alors, il ne pouvait emporter que deux GBU 12. Cette configuration autorisée depuis moins d’un mois permet de doubler les capacités du chasseur.

On Nov. 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes using attack, ground-attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and 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 Mar’a, two strikes destroyed an ISIL artillery piece, an ISIL mortar tube, and an ISIL weapons cache.

* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and destroyed an ISIL earthen bridge.

* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL structures and an ISIL tactical vehicle.

* Near Al Hawl, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ayn Isa, four strikes struck four separate tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and six ISIL structures.

Iraq

* Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck an ISIL staging area.

* Near Ar Rutbah, one strike struck an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility.

* Near Fallujah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and wounded two ISIL fighters.

* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery piece.

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

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

* Near Mosul, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, eight ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL house borne improvised explosive device (HBIED), two ISIL recoilless rifles, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL building, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

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

* Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL bridge section.

Additionally on Nov. 21, two strikes occurred in Syria that were previously unreported:

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.

* Near Al Hasakah and Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed 283 ISIL vehicles.

On Sunday 22 November, Tornado GR4s attacked a Da’ish vehicle armed with an anti-aircraft gun and a stockpile of home-made explosives, destroying both with Paveways.

On Nov. 21, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes using ground-attack, attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, attack, ground-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 [also see note for November 22nd-23rd]

* Near Al Hasakah, five strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, three ISIL structures, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), damaged an ISIL structure, and wounded ISIL fighters.
* Near Al Hawl, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and wounded ISIL fighters.
* Near Mar’a, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Iraq

* Near Haditha, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.
* Near Hit, one strike denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Kisik, one strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.
* Near Mosul, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery piece.
* Near Ramadi, five strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL IED obstacles, two ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL heavy machine gun positions, two ISIL vehicles, three ISIL weapon caches, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL VBIED, cratered an ISIL road, suppressed an ISIL rocket position, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL checkpoint.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Tikrit, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL fighting position, and four ISIL vehicles.

Two more ISIL check-points were struck by a Reaper over northern Iraq on Saturday [November 21st].

On Nov. 20, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes using attack, ground-attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, 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 Abu Kamal, one strike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.

• Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL vehicle borne explosive device (VBIED), and four ISIL vehicles.

• Near Al Hawl, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

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

• Near Dayr Ar Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles.

• Near Mar’a, 13 strikes struck 12 separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL buildings, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL staging area, damaged an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building, and wounded an ISIL fighter.

Iraq

• Near Albu Hayat, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL buildings.

• Near Bayji, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.

• Near Kisik, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

• Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL vehicle.

• Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and three ISIL fighting positions.

• Near Ramadi, six strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL command and control facility, 15 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL buildings, five ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL IED facility, an ISIL resupply warehouse, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

• Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL fighting position, and an ISIL checkpoint.

• Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas.

Reapers conducted three strikes on Friday 20 November: two Hellfires destroyed an armed pick-up truck and a terrorist check-point, whilst a GBU-12 guided bomb eliminated a large group of terrorists gathered at a weapons cache.

On Nov. 19, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, attack, ground-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:

Iraq

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

* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL anti-air artillery pieces, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and two ISIL buildings. [see video below]

* Near Kisik, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL light machine guns, four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL supply caches, and an ISIL bunker. [see video below]

* Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL weapons vehicle borne improvised explosive device manufacturing facility.

* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck two ISIL gas and oil separation plants and an ISIL petroleum refinement facility.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL boat, an ISIL VBIED, two ISIL staging areas, damaged an ISIL headquarters building, suppressed an ISIL VBIED, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL light machine gun.

On 19 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes to increase Iraqi security forces’ freedom of movement in the region, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS weapons production facility in the vicinity of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On Thursday [November 19th] Tornados used a Paveway to destroy a Da’ish sniper position which had opened fire on Kurdish troops, then scored a direct hit with a Brimstone missile on a terrorist vehicle near Sinjar.

The same day saw a Reaper flying overwatch for Iraqi troops further south, and it successfully struck a group of terrorists with a Hellfire missile.

Depuis le 15 novembre 2015, l’armée française a intensifié ses opérations contre Daech en Irak et en Syrie. En complément des raids menés à partir des bases du golfe Arabo-Persique et de Jordanie, le groupe aéronaval (GAN) sera rapidement déployé en Méditerranée orientale (MEDOR). Avec au total 38 chasseurs, le GAN triplera les capacités d’action aérienne de l’opération Chammal.

Point de situation au 19 novembre 2015

Raqqah : intensification des raids contre Daech en Syrie

En Syrie, la semaine a été marquée par une intensification des frappes contre le fief de Daech basé à Raqqah. En 48 heures, deux centres d’entraînement et quatre centres de commandement ont été frappés. Au total, 35 objectifs ont été détruits.

Situation en Irak

En Irak, les dernières semaines ont été marquées par des offensives menées par les forces irakiennes contre Daech. Des succès ont été enregistrés et les lignes de front ont évolué au bénéfice des forces irakiennes dans les régions de Sinjar, Tall Afar, Mossoul, Bayji et Ramadi. La ville de Bayji a été reprise par les forces irakiennes ; à Ramadi, les troupes irakiennes exercent une pression continue sur Daech ; dans la région de Sinjar, une opération de grande envergure a permis de reprendre l’axe logistique entre Mossoul (Irak) et la Syrie.

Ces avancées sont les conséquences des choix stratégiques de la coalition.

Les succès opérationnels ont ainsi été rendus possibles grâce aux appuis de la coalition : opérations aériennes et entraînement dispensé aux forces irakiennes et peshmergas.

On Nov. 19, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, attack, ground-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:

Iraq

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

* Near Fallujah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL anti-air artillery pieces, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and two ISIL buildings. [see video below]

* Near Kisik, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL light machine guns, four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL supply caches, and an ISIL bunker. [see video below]

* Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL weapons vehicle borne improvised explosive device manufacturing facility.

* Near Qayyarah, three strikes struck two ISIL gas and oil separation plants and an ISIL petroleum refinement facility.

* Near Ramadi, five strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL boat, an ISIL VBIED, two ISIL staging areas, damaged an ISIL headquarters building, suppressed an ISIL VBIED, and denied ISIL access to terrain.

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

* Near Tal Afar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL light machine gun.

On 19 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes to increase Iraqi security forces’ freedom of movement in the region, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS weapons production facility in the vicinity of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On Thursday [November 19th] Tornados used a Paveway to destroy a Da’ish sniper position which had opened fire on Kurdish troops, then scored a direct hit with a Brimstone missile on a terrorist vehicle near Sinjar.

The same day saw a Reaper flying overwatch for Iraqi troops further south, and it successfully struck a group of terrorists with a Hellfire missile.

Depuis le 15 novembre 2015, l’armée française a intensifié ses opérations contre Daech en Irak et en Syrie. En complément des raids menés à partir des bases du golfe Arabo-Persique et de Jordanie, le groupe aéronaval (GAN) sera rapidement déployé en Méditerranée orientale (MEDOR). Avec au total 38 chasseurs, le GAN triplera les capacités d’action aérienne de l’opération Chammal.

Point de situation au 19 novembre 2015

Raqqah : intensification des raids contre Daech en Syrie

En Syrie, la semaine a été marquée par une intensification des frappes contre le fief de Daech basé à Raqqah. En 48 heures, deux centres d’entraînement et quatre centres de commandement ont été frappés. Au total, 35 objectifs ont été détruits.

Situation en Irak

En Irak, les dernières semaines ont été marquées par des offensives menées par les forces irakiennes contre Daech. Des succès ont été enregistrés et les lignes de front ont évolué au bénéfice des forces irakiennes dans les régions de Sinjar, Tall Afar, Mossoul, Bayji et Ramadi. La ville de Bayji a été reprise par les forces irakiennes ; à Ramadi, les troupes irakiennes exercent une pression continue sur Daech ; dans la région de Sinjar, une opération de grande envergure a permis de reprendre l’axe logistique entre Mossoul (Irak) et la Syrie.

Ces avancées sont les conséquences des choix stratégiques de la coalition.

Les succès opérationnels ont ainsi été rendus possibles grâce aux appuis de la coalition : opérations aériennes et entraînement dispensé aux forces irakiennes et peshmergas.

On Nov. 18, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, 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 struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL crane.

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

* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL buildings.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL storage facility.

Iraq

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

* Near Kisik, six strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL weapons caches, 12 ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ramadi, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL tactical vehicles, an ISIL tunnel, seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL- controlled bridge, an ISIL vehicle borne explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL bed down location, an ISIL staging area, and cratered two ISIL roads. [see video below]

* Near Sinjar, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

On 18 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces offensive operations, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck three separate ISIS fighting positions, one south of Kirkuk and two others northwest of Mosul, using precision guided munitions.

On Nov. 18, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, 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 struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL crane.

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

* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL buildings.

* Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant.

* Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL storage facility.

Iraq

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

* Near Kisik, six strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL weapons caches, 12 ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and two ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Ramadi, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL tactical vehicles, an ISIL tunnel, seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL- controlled bridge, an ISIL vehicle borne explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL bed down location, an ISIL staging area, and cratered two ISIL roads. [see video below]

* Near Sinjar, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL tactical vehicle, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

On 18 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces offensive operations, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck three separate ISIS fighting positions, one south of Kirkuk and two others northwest of Mosul, using precision guided munitions.

On On Nov. 17, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes using attack, fighter, and bomber aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using bomber, attack, and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck two ISIL oil and gas separation plants.
* Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 13 ISIL buildings, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Al Hawl, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and four ISIL fighting positions.
* Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes [2 French] struck three ISIL headquarters and an ISIL bivouac.

Iraq

* Near Kisik, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL bunkers, two ISIL weapons caches, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL fighting position, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Ramadi, six strikes [1 Canadian] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), 29 ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL vehicles, 16 ISIL machine gun positions, three ISIL tactical vehicles, four ISIL VBIED staging areas, an ISIL bulldozer, five ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL building, an ISIL staging area, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes suppressed an ISIL rocket position and an ISIL mortar position.

Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base safely.

The strike release published on Nov. 16 includes a French strike listed as “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike struck an ISIL storage depot.” After further coordination with the French Ministry of Defense, we have determined that France conducted two separate strikes on two different targets. The first target was an ISIL storage depot and the second strike against an ISIL command and control node.

A strike, as defined in the CJTF releases, means one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect for that location. So having a single aircraft deliver a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use. Accordingly, CJTF-OIR does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

Le mardi 17 novembre 2015, l’armée française a de nouveau frappé Daech à Raqqah – fief de l’organisation terroriste en Syrie.

Dans la continuité des raids menés depuis 48 heures, la force Chammal a bombardé successivement deux centres de commandement de Daech. Les premières frappes ont débuté à 19h30 (heure française). Les deux objectifs visés ont été détruits.

Constitué de 10 chasseurs en provenance du golfe Arabo-Persique (GAP) et de Jordanie, le raid a été mené par quatre Rafale et six Mirage (2000D et 2000N).

Ces trois derniers jours, la force Chammal a concentré ses frappes sur les camps d’entraînement et les centres de commandement, deux piliers indispensables au fonctionnement de Daech. En 48 heures, les raids français ont ainsi anéanti six objectifs d’importance contrôlés par cette organisation terroriste.

On 17 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck three ISIS fighting positions during two separate airstrikes in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Nederlandse F-16’s, actief in de strijd tegen ISIS in het Midden-Oosten, vlogen 3 missies. Daarbij werden een hoofdkwartier en opslagplaatsen van ISIS bestookt. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 9 tot en met 15 november.

In Erbil in Noord-Irak begon een nieuwe lichting Peshmerga-strijders aan de Infanterie Basiscursus. In Bagdad gingen de Iraakse cursisten verder met de verschillende commando-opleidingen.

Bouwvakkers treffen voorbereidingen voor de bouw van het pand.

Bouwvakkers treffen voorbereidingen voor de bouw van het pand in Bagdad.

In de Iraakse hoofdstad werd de eerste paal in de grond geslagen van het te bouwen medisch lesgebouw op de militaire academie in Bagdad. Naar verwachting is het onderkomen eind december gereed. De bouw van de leslokalen maakt deel uit van de hulp die Nederland biedt aan de Iraakse overheid. Daarnaast komt er in het gebouw ook een medisch skills lab. Geslaagden van de commando-opleiding krijgen een individuele EHBO-uitrusting.

Le 18 novembre 2015, le Groupe aéronaval (GAN) a appareillé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Il prendra part rapidement aux opérations de la Coalition contre Daech et complètera ainsi le dispositif de l’armée de l’Air déjà engagé au Levant. Le GAN permettra de multiplier par trois le potentiel miliaire des moyens français engagés au Levant contre Daech.

Au cours de son déploiement, il participera également à des manœuvres conjointes dans un cadre multinational et interalliés, ainsi qu’à des manœuvres bilatérales avec les pays de la région. Dans le golfe Arabo-Persique, le GAN assurera durant plusieurs semaines le commandement de la Task Force 50.

Cette mission du GAN est baptisée Arromanches 2.

Constitué autour du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle, le groupe aéronaval a pris le nom de Task Force 473 (TF 473). La TF 473 est placée sous le commandement tactique du contre-amiral René-Jean Crignola. Le GAN sera placé successivement sous le contrôle opérationnel de commandant de la zone maritime en Méditerranée et du commandant de la composante navale de la coalition dès son entrée en Océan Indien et jusqu’à sa sortie du golfe Arabo-Persique, puis du commandant de la zone maritime de l’Océan Indien jusqu’au franchissement du canal de Suez.

Le GAN est composé :

Du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle, du groupe aérien embarqué (18 Rafale Marine, 8 Super étendard modernisés, 2 Hawkeye, 2 Dauphin et 1 Alouette III) et de l’état-major du GAN ;

D’une frégate de défense aérienne Chevalier Paul (+ 1 Caïman Marine) ;

D’une frégate anti sous-marine La Motte Piquet (+ Lynx) jusqu’à mi-janvier 2016 ;

D’une frégate européenne multi missions (FREMM) Aquitaine (+ 1 Caïman Marine) à partir de mi-janvier 2016 ;

D’un bâtiment de commandement et de ravitaillement Marne (+ Alouette III) ;

D’une frégate anti-aérienne britannique HMS Defender (+ Lynx et Merlin) ;

D’une frégate belge Léopold Ier (+ Alouette III) du 18 novembre 2015 au 4 janvier 2016 ;

Il pourra être renforcé par la FREMM Provence (+ 1 Caïman Marine) lors de son déploiement de longue durée ;

Ponctuellement de moyens américains navals et aériens.

Des bâtiments de d’autres nations alliées pourront être intégrés au GAN. L’interopérabilité des moyens français avec ceux des Marines alliées est l’assurance pour la Coalition de pouvoir agir avec une très grande réactivité au Levant.

La présence du GAN dans le golfe Arabo-Persique augmente ainsi les opportunités de coopération avec nos partenaires régionaux. Elle est le signe concret de l’intérêt que la France porte à cette zone.