US-Led Coalition Airstrikes Hit 18 Daesh Oil Refineries in Mosul

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US-led coalition carried out 36 airstrikes on Thursday against Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) insurgents embedded in Syria and Iraq, targeting dozens of modular oil refineries in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement.

"Near Mosul, 21 strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, 18 ISIL modular oil refineries, and two ISIL crude oil stills and destroyed an ISIL assembly area," the statement said.

In total, the coalition conducted 30 airstrikes in and around six Iraqi cities. Through the cities of Hit, Kisik, Qayyarah, Sultan Abdallah and Tal Afar, the coalition hit tactical units, boats, weapon caches a tunnel system and a mortar position, according to CENTCOM.

Meanwhile in Syria, six coalition airstrikes in the cites of Raqqa and Mara destroyed an Daesh bulldozer, several tactical units, fighting positions and vehicles.

Since 2014, the Daesh has held Mosul, which has served as a stronghold for the terrorist group, while coalition leaders have been reluctant to indicate time-frame for the city’s liberation.

The US-led coalition of over 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against the Daesh since summer 2014. Over the past year, the coalition has reclaimed a number of cities around Mosul in a bid to choke off outside support to Daesh.