Islamic State Weakened by 12 US, Coalition Airstrikes - Pentagon

According to the US Defense Department, US and anti-Islamic State Coalition military forces continued to weaken the militant group by launching 12 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US and anti-Islamic State Coalition military forces continued to weaken the militant group by launching 12 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, the US Defense Department said in a statement.

“Fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted four airstrikes near Kobani [in Syria],” the statement, issued on Tuesday, said. “Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight airstrikes in Iraq.”

The airstrikes were carried out amid media reports on Tuesday that the Iraqi Army has blocked the supply routes to ISIL militants in Tikrit.

In Syria, airstrikes destroyed four ISIL tactical units, nine fighting positions and a vehicle near Kobani, the statement said.

Airstrikes in Iraq decimated two ISIL large tactical units and three vehicles near Fallujah; four tactical units, five fighting positions, four buildings, three vehicles, three vehicle bombs, a culvert crossing, and a heavy machine gun near Kirkuk; and an ISIL vehicle near Mosul, the statement added.

The airstrikes were conducted as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve, whose goal is to destroy ISIL militants and their threat to Iraq, Syria, the Middle East, and the rest of the world.