IS Positions Targeted In Coalition Airstrikes

Coalition forces have launched 51 airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria over the past three days, according to the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Unmanned drones, fighter jets and bombers launched the attacks as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the name given for the aerial bombardment campaign against IS.

A statement released by the CJTF claimed aircraft hit 19 targets in Syria, while 20 strikes were carried out in Iraq on Thursday and Friday.

A further 12 took place on Saturday.

It was claimed 17 strikes in Syria concentrated on an area near the city of Kobani and destroyed several Islamic State buildings, vehicles and fighting positions.

Two strikes near Hasakah and one near Raqqa also caused damage while in Iraq, the strikes hit near Al Asad, Sinjar, Mosul, Al Qaim, Baiji, Kirkuk, Falluja and Tal Afar, the statement said.

Video released by the US also showed coalition airstrikes in Syria on 21 December.

The US and its allies have been targeting Islamic State in Syria since 23 September and waging an air campaign against the group in Iraq for even longer.

The operation aims to push back the organisation after it took over much of Iraq and Syria.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the Syria airstrikes, with logistical support from Qatar.

The strikes come after the United Nations urged Islamic militants holding a Jordanian pilot whose warplane crashed in Syria to treat him in line with humanitarian law.

IS supporters claimed the plane, which was flying with coalition forces, was hit by a heat-seeking missile near Raqqa city in northern Syria.

Jordan said the F-16 fighter was shot down during a "military mission against the hideouts of the terrorist group", but added it was unclear why the plane crashed.

An army statement read on Jordanian state television said: "Jordan holds the group and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life."