U.S., Middle Eastern forces end successful year against ISIS

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

(Editor’s note: Information contained within this article was provided by U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs to include statistics and a summary of operations conducted in July.)

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – December marked a crowning achievement in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announcing the complete liberation of Iraq on Dec. 10.

According to Lt. Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, the Iraqi Security Force-led advance against ISIS was significantly enabled by the asymmetric advantages provided by a Coalition airpower team of 21,000 Airmen and more than 300 aircraft from 21 nations.

Throughout December, mobility crews delivered more than 3,280 tons of cargo and completed delivery of all required MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

The synchronized airpower provided in 2017 to both Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian Democratic Forces included more than 200,000 hours of manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, nearly 40,000 weapons employed, and 788 million pounds of fuel dispensed in support of approximately 20,000 sorties.

Throughout the complex fight in 2017, Coalition airpower decimated ISIS’ oil production capacity with a deliberate campaign that eliminated 90 percent of the revenue ISIS used to wage war and recruit and retain a fighting force.

Following the SDF’s liberation of Raqqah in late October, dynamic airstrikes enabled the SDF and ISF to advance along the Middle Euphrates River Valley towards one another, squeezing the remnants of ISIS into a pocket on the Iraq-Syria border.

Following victories in the major urban fights of Mosul, Raqqah, Tal Afar and elsewhere, weapon releases in December dropped to 584 – the lowest levels since the first month of the Operation Inherent Resolve campaign in August 2014. The continued decrease in weapons released further demonstrates the positive results of OIR’s intense air campaign to target and annihilate ISIS.

As the Coalition retained its focus on defeating ISIS, the shrinking pocket of ISIS resistance presented additional deconfliction challenges in December, requiring Coalition Airmen to exercise increased discipline in the most complex, dynamic and congested airspace of the conflict. Russian and Syrian aircraft frequently conducted operations that didn’t match what was agreed to through deconfliction channels, resulting in several intercepts and near collisions between Coalition and Russian and Syrian aircraft.

Despite these challenges, the Coalition continued to leverage the deconfliction line daily to avoid a repeat of the three shoot-downs in June, where for the first time ever, U.S. aircraft downed drone aircraft that were attempting to bomb Coalition forces, and an F-18 shot down a Syrian Su-22 fighter that was bombing partner ground forces.

As we look ahead, Coalition airpower will continue to target ISIS to prevent its resurgence while simultaneously increasing its attention to the train, advise and assist mission. The goal of Coalition Airmen in the TAA mission is to develop an Iraqi Aviation Enterprise that will enable the Iraqis’ ability to safeguard their country from violent extremists. The Dec. 27 graduation of the first class of Iraqi C-130J senior maintainers, trained and certified by U.S. Airmen from the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron, demonstrates this effort is producing desired results.

Thank to Operation Freedom’s Sentinel & Resolute Support Mission—advising Afghan Air Forces and countering terrorism throughout December—U.S. and Afghan forces maintained pressure on the Taliban with the continued and deliberate campaign to target their revenue sources. Over the course of month, F-18s, B-52s, F-16s and MQ-9s destroyed 11 more narcotics processing and storage facilities and stockpiles in Helmand province. Since November, the financial impact to the Taliban revenue is estimated at more than $20M.

In addition to this deliberate campaign, U.S. and Afghan airpower continued to support ground forces with dynamic close air support. Weapon releases climbed 20 percent from the previous month as the Afghan National Defense and Security Force continued to maintain pressure on the Taliban into the winter.

In December, the AAF began training with GBU-58s and GBU-12s, increasing their ability to effectively target their enemies with more precise weapons. Additionally, AAF personnel are undergoing training to conduct suspended or “sling-load” operations that enables expeditious retrieval or delivery of aircraft and equipment to and from austere areas with limited ground access.

Looking ahead, air planners are actively preparing to support the arrival of the U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigade in 2018.