Coalition partners have increased offensive activity against Islamic State targets in designated parts of Iraq and Syria throughout the months of May and June, say officials.
Since the May 1st start of Operation Roundup, Syrian Democratic Forces resumed major offensive operations in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. Since then, the SDF has continued to gain ground through offensive operations coupled with precision coalition strike support.
Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partner forces continue to exert pressure on Islamic State senior leaders and associates in order to degrade, disrupt and dismantle structures and remove terrorists throughout Iraq and Syria. Islamic State morale is sinking on the frontlines as privileged leaders increasingly abandon their own fighters on the battlefield, taking resources with them as they flee.
According to a release:
“Over the coming weeks, Operation Roundup will continue to build momentum against ISIS remnants remaining in the Iraq-Syria border region and the middle Euphrates River Valley.
The coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS here, increasing peace and stability in the region and protecting all our homelands from the Islamic State threat.”
Coalition military forces conducted 26 strikes June 11th-17th, consisting of 36 engagements in Iraq and Syria.
A strike, as defined by coalition officials, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative effect in that location. For example, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of IS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined.
Task force officials do 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.
