US-Led Coalition Conducts Strikes Near Syria's Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor

The US-led coalition carried out 35 strikes consisting of 114 engagements in Syria and Iraq against Daesh on Sunday, including 21 near the Syrian city of Raqqa, Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The strikes in Raqqa are part of the US-led coalition's operation to free the former de facto Daesh's capital.

"Near Raqqa, 21 strikes engaged 14 ISIS [Daesh] tactical units and destroyed 22 fighting positions, two UAS [unmanned aerial vehicles] staging areas, two heavy machine guns, a vehicle and an explosives cache," Joint Task Force press release stated on Monday.

Also in Syria, five other strikes near three cities, including Deir ez-Zor destroyed nine oil stills, three oil barrels, eight Daesh well-heads, two command and control nodes, a fighting position, and engaged a Daesh tactical unit.

In Iraq, nine strikes were conducted near five cities, including Rawah and Tal Afar, the release added. Those strikes suppressed a Daesh unit and 32 mortar systems, engaged seven Daesh units and destroyed supply caches, staging areas, supply routes, an anti-tank weapon, explosive devices, weapons caches and tunnel entrances, among others.

Forty-six other strikes consisting of 59 engagements were carried out in Iraq and Syria on August 18 and 19, which closed in the past 24 hours. Those strikes hit two cities in Syria, including Raqqa, and two cities in Iraq.

The US-led coalition of more than 70 members is conducting airstrikes, ground-based and rocket-propelled artillery fire against Daesh in Syria and Iraq. The strikes in Iraq are conducted in support of the Iraqi government, but those in Syria are not authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or the UN Security Council.