IqAAC & SyAAF airstrikes, U.S. ISR flights, weapons flow to and from Iraq

IqAAC and SyAAF limited airstrike capabilities employed against ISIL targets in Iraq:

Above: File photo of two Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IqAAC) Iraqi Mil Mi-17V-5 (Hip H) combat-transport helicopters.

On 24JUN14, IqAAC airstrikes near the Baiji oil refinery facility claimed ISIL losses of nineteen KIA.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials have publicly stated that Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) jets have been striking western Anbar Province, On 22JUN14 logistic tagets at Al-Qa'im were hit by SyAAF ground-attack rocket and cannon fire. (The overland line of communication through Iraq into Sytia for government-supporting forces appears restricted by advancing ISIL/allied positions during the 2014 Northern Iraq Offensive.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. military ISR flights over Iraqi airspace:

Above: file photo of USAF Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance aircraft.

According to PentagonPresSec RDML John Kirby, the U.S. military continues to fly between 30 to 35 "routine and regular" ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions per day around Iraq.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Examples of weapons flow to and from Iraq during the 2014 Northerm Iraq Offensive:

Photo taken a few days ago of reemerging Shia-Iraqi militia "Mahdi Army" or"Peace Brigades," with at least two militiamen seen here equipped with Iranian-manufactured G3-A3 battle rifles.

On the other side of the conflict, seen at Raqqa, Syria is ISIL prize of war consisting of captured Oshkosh MTVR Mk 23 cargo truck towing a M198 howitzer; equipment previously supplied to the Iraqi Army by the United States.