WASHINGTON – NEWS – Air attacks against ISIL or Islamic State positions are continuing. The Islamic State has released a video with two Japanese Nationals and threatened them with death unless Japan pays a ransom of $200 million.
The death threats against the two hostages are made in the video which coalition intelligence forces are seeking to confirm as authentic.
ISIL has reportedly released the threatening video featuring a black-clad man standing with a knife, with two kneeling men wearing orange clothing, The Japanese public, according to the video have three days to pressure their government to stop its support for the U.S.-led coalition waging a military campaign against the Islamic State. “To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,500 km away from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade,” stated the ISIL militant in the video.
Meanwhile coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq in recent days, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, which took place between 8 a.m. Jan. 16 and 8 a.m. today, local time, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 38 airstrikes in Syria over that period:
— Near Kobani, 11 airstrikes struck an ISIL tank, three ISIL fighting positions and four ISIL tactical units, and destroyed an ISIL tank and eight ISIL fighting positions.
— Near Abu Kamal, an airstrike struck an ISIL vehicle and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.
— Near Dawr az Zawr, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
— Near Kobani, 11 airstrikes struck two large ISIL units and eight ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL staging positions and an ISIL vehicle.
— Near Aleppo, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
— Near Hasakah, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL artillery system.
— Near Kobani, nine airstrikes struck seven ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL staging positions, five ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL mortar system.
— Near Hasakah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL bunker.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 36 airstrikes in Iraq over that period:
— Near Hit, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles.
— Near Qaim, two airstrikes struck an ISIL checkpoint and destroyed an ISIL excavator.
— Near Beiji, two airstrikes struck a large ISIL unit and an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL buildings.
— Near Taji, five airstrikes struck five ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL buildings.
— Near Asad, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
— Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and an ISIL fighting position and destroyed two ISIL buildings.
— Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL fighting position and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
— Near Beiji, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and a large ISIL unit and destroyed three ISIL buildings.
— Near Rutbah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle.
— Near Taji, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
— Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck a large ISIL unit.
— Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and a large ISIL unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
— Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and a large ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL artillery system.
— Near Baghdad, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
— Near Qaim, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL armored vehicles.
— Near Asad, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and two ISIL supply caches.
— Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL mortar systems.
— Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
— Near Kirkuk, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
— Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck a large ISIL unit and destroyed three ISIL buildings and two ISIL heavy weapons.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group’s ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
