US-led Coalition Launches Three Anti-Daesh Airstrikes in Syria, 20 in Iraq

The US-led coalition conducted three strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft in Syria and separately coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US-led coalition conducted three airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS, ISIL or Daesh) terrorists in Syria and 20 airstrikes in Iraq, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release on Thursday.

“In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft,” the release said. “Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using fighter, bomber, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.”

Wednesday’s airstrikes near Syria’s city of Raqqah wounded an ISIL fighter and struck an IS tactical unit. Another strike near Kobani destroyed an IS vehicle and an IS building, while a strike near Ayn Isa destroyed an ISIL mortar system.

In Iraq, the 20 coalition airstrikes wounded two ISIL fighters, and destroyed multiple ISIL vehicles, fighting positions, tactical units and weapons caches.

The US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been carrying out airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq since August 2014, and in Syria since September 2014 — albeit without the approval of the Syrian government or the UN Security Council.

Moscow also continues its aerial campaign in Syria against the ISIL, which is outlawed in Russia. The campaign began on September 30 at the request of Damascus, and has resulted in the destruction of well over 3,000 targets.