The US And Allies Launched A Barrage Of Airstrikes Against ISIS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies launched a barrage of attacks against Islamic State over the weekend, conducting 23 air strikes in Syria and 18 in Iraq against the militant group since Friday, U.S. Central Command said.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the strikes in Syria included 13 aimed near the key border down of Kobani and 10 hit near Dayr Az Zawr.

Centcom said the strikes in Syria hit an ISIS vehicle and five small ISIS units, while destroying an ISIS-occupied building used for ammunition stockpile, an ISIS command and control building, and seven ISIS fighting positions. The strikes also damaged several structures of an ISIS oil collection facility Centcom said was "used to trans-load oil for the black market" near Dayr Az Zawr.

In Iraq, seven strikes hit near Baiji while others hit in or near Falluja, Mosul, al-Qaim, Haditha, Ramadi and Rutba, according to the statement.

The strikes near Baiji hit three small ISIS units and destroyed an ISIS sniper position and two ISIS vehicles. The strikes in Fallujah hit two small ISIS units and ISIS fighters who were emplacing an improvised explosive device (IED) on a road, while destroying an ISIS vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun.

Three airstrikes near Mosul hit a small ISIS unit and destroyed an ISIS armed truck and a vehicle convoy. The two airstrikes near al-Qaim destroyed an ISIS armored vehicle and two ISIS checkpoints.

Centcom said all aircraft used to conduct the strikes departed safely. The statement did not mention any targeting of a high-level ISIS convoy including ISIS' self-declared caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which Centcom acknowledged over the weekend.

"I can confirm that coalition aircraft did conduct a series of air strikes yesterday evening in Iraq against what was assessed to be a gathering of ISIL leaders near Mosul," said Patrick Ryder, a Centcom spokesman.

"We cannot confirm if ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was among those present."

(Reuters reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)