US and coalition forces conduct airstrikes against ISIS

Middle East, News, US March 8, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

US and coalition forces conducted 12 air strikes against ISIS fighters in Iraq and one in Syria in the past 24 hours, the US military said on Sunday.

The Syria strike, near Kobani, hit an Isis tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions, according to the military’s statement.

In Iraq, two air strikes near Al Huwijah destroyed six excavators and hit a tactical unit. Near Fallujah, four strikes hit two tactical units, a fighting position and destroyed three vehicles. Other strikes near Haditha, Kirkuk and Mosul also struck tactical units, fighting positions, excavators, vehicles and other targets.

Two strikes near Tal Afar hit a factory for assembling improvised explosive devices, according to the statement.

Earlier on Saturday, at least 26 ISIS militants were killed during an air strike by the Syrian air force.

Syrian state media reported the death of one of the Islamic State commanders killed in the air strike. It identified him as one of the group’s self-declared provincial governors, Deeb Hedijan al-Otaibi.

Strikes began in Iraq on 8 August and Syria on 23 September, after ISIS fighters captured swathes of territory in the two countries.

The chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Martin Dempsey, said strikes had paved the way for success in offensives by Iraqi troops, such as that currently being carried out against the Isis-held town of Tikrit.

TG/ARAN