US airstrikes have devastated targets in Iraq and Syria

US-led air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria have damaged or destroyed 3,222 targets since August, including 58 tanks, 184 Humvees, 673 fighting positions and 980 buildings or barracks, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said he was not sure how many targets had been damaged rather than destroyed, but said: "I'm confident that the destruction level is high. Our strikes are extraordinarily accurate."

Release of the target damage list came a day after US defence officials confirmed they are looking into reports of civilian casualties caused by the strikes in Iraq and Syria and are conducting a deeper investigation of two cases involving fewer than five deaths.

As of 11 pm on Tuesday (0400 GMT Wednesday), US and coalition air forces had conducted a total of 1,676 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria since August 8 and had used some 4,775 munitions, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.

Warren said US and coalition forces had hit 3,222 targets in the air strikes but he declined to say what percentage of Islamic State equipment was destroyed.

"In order for us to do that we would have to release to you the exact number of tanks we believe the enemy has, the exact number of Humvees we believe the enemy has," he said. "We don't want our enemy to know how much we know about them."

Countries whose forces have participated in the strikes in Iraq are: Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France and the Netherlands. Those participating in strikes in Syria are Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The targets damaged or destroyed included tanks, boats, Humvees, technical vehicles, artillery, buildings and oil infrastructure sites. No aircraft were on the list, Warren said.

He said the Humvees were US vehicles supplied to the Iraqi military and captured by militants, as were some of the armoured personnel vehicles. It was unclear whether any of the tanks were US-made.

Warren said some vehicles had been hit while parked, while others were struck while engaged in combat. The boats were used by Islamic State to ferry supplies across the Euphrates River, he said.

related articles
ISIS: At least 220 Iraqis aged 18 - 55 executed by Islamic State militants after opposing their takeover
ISIS: At least 220 Iraqis aged 18 - 55 executed by Islamic State militants after opposing their takeover

ISIS: At least 220 Iraqis aged 18 - 55 executed by Islamic State militants after opposing their takeover

Iraqi Kurdish forces enter Syria to fight Islamic State
Iraqi Kurdish forces enter Syria to fight Islamic State

Iraqi Kurdish forces enter Syria to fight Islamic State

Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani
Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani

Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani

Peshmerga, Syrian rebels battle Islamic State in besieged Kobani
Peshmerga, Syrian rebels battle Islamic State in besieged Kobani

Peshmerga, Syrian rebels battle Islamic State in besieged Kobani

ISIS and al-Qaeda join forces against US coalition
ISIS and al-Qaeda join forces against US coalition

ISIS and al-Qaeda join forces against US coalition

Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul
Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul

Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul

News
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame

Over 323,000 people have signed a petition in opposition to new stained-glass window designs for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God
Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God

Rapper Nicki Minaj opened up about her recently reignited relationship with God and what inspired her to speak out for persecuted Christians, suggesting that her rise in the music industry made it more challenging to maintain the spirituality of her youth. 

Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events
Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events

The Christian Institute has initiated legal proceedings against Keir Starmer in a bid to end civil service participation in controversial Pride marches. 

National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £7.3 million to help maintain four historic churches.