Roughly 40% US Sorties Return to Base Without Striking Daesh Targets

Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva said that roughly 40 percent of US sorties come back every day not having struck dynamic targets of Islamic State, also known as Daesh, militant group.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — More than a third of the US sorties flying combat missions in Iraq and Syria return to their bases without hitting Islamic State, also known as Daesh, targets, Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva told the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

"Roughly 40 percent come back every day not having struck dynamic targets," Selva said when asked what percentage of US sorties return without dropping munitions on Islamic State targets.

Nearly seven months ago, US media circulated unofficial reports that US Air Force aircraft were returning to base without discharging as much as 75 percent of their munitions.

In total, the US-led coalition against the Islamic State has carried out more than 8,500 airstrikes, and has increased the rate of aerial attacks following the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. The Islamic State, also known as Daesh, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.