The U.S. and Coalition forces conducted 25 airstrikes over the course of 85 engagements with ISIS in Iraq and Syria on July 3, according to the Defense Department.
The strikes destroyed car bombs, weapons, wellheads and ISIS-held buildings, among other targets.
The strikes are part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the Defense Department reported.
“The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group’s ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said,” according to the report.
The reported strikes include all strikes “conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.”
Officials pointed out: “Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. A strike, as defined by the Coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.”
The Defense Department reported the following strikes:
Strikes in Syria
In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 31 engagements against ISIS targets:
— Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS wellhead.
— Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIS wellhead.
— Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, three mortar systems, two sections of wall, two vehicles, an anti-air artillery system, a heavy machine gun, and an explosives cache; damaged five ISIS supply routes; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.
Strikes in Iraq
In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 54 engagements against ISIS targets:
— Near Al Huwayjah, a strike destroyed three car bomb storage facilities.
— Near Al Qaim, two strikes destroyed two oil storage tanks and an ISIS command and control node.
— Near Kirkuk, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a staging area and a supply cache.
— Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 21 fighting positions, six medium machine guns, three rocket-propelled grenade systems, and an artillery system; and damaged five fighting positions.
— Near Rawah, two strikes destroyed a mortar system.
Previously Unreported
Additionally, nine previously unreported strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on July 2.
— Near Al Shadaddi, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four ISIS-held buildings and a command and control node.
— Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two car bombs, an ISIS communications tower, and a fighting position; and damaged 32 fighting positions.
— Near Kisik, Iraq, a strike destroyed a vehicle and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.
— Near Mosul, Iraq, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven medium machine guns, five fighting positions, five roadside bombs, and a weapons cache; damaged two fighting positions; and suppressed a sniper team.
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