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Video: U.S., Iraqi Warplanes Demolish Two Huge ISIS Convoys

The Islamic State tried to move large number sof trucks and fighters around near Fallujah and Ramadi. It didn't work out well.

By , a staff writer at Foreign Policy from 2015-2018.
A member of the Iraqi government forces stands next to the charred vehicles on a road southwest of Fallujah on June 29, 2016 after Iraqi forces airstrikes destroyed 260 vehicles carrying militants from the Islamic State group trying to flee after their defeat in Fallujah. / AFP / MOADH AL-DULAIMI (Photo credit should read MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images)
A member of the Iraqi government forces stands next to the charred vehicles on a road southwest of Fallujah on June 29, 2016 after Iraqi forces airstrikes destroyed 260 vehicles carrying militants from the Islamic State group trying to flee after their defeat in Fallujah. / AFP / MOADH AL-DULAIMI (Photo credit should read MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images)
A member of the Iraqi government forces stands next to the charred vehicles on a road southwest of Fallujah on June 29, 2016 after Iraqi forces airstrikes destroyed 260 vehicles carrying militants from the Islamic State group trying to flee after their defeat in Fallujah. / AFP / MOADH AL-DULAIMI (Photo credit should read MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images)

American and Iraqi warplanes caught two large convoys of Islamic State trucks out in the open this week, and wiped out both on an industrial scale.

American and Iraqi warplanes caught two large convoys of Islamic State trucks out in the open this week, and wiped out both on an industrial scale.

In the kind of wartime footage rarely seen in the recent American insurgent wars, U.S. forces took out around 120 ISIS vehicles moving near Ramadi on Wednesday as they drove westward, possibly attempting to reinforce the ISIS forces under attack by the U.S.-backed new Syrian Army around al-Bukamal. The video below was shot by U.S. aircraft as they zeroed in on that convoy. Iraqi aircraft were also involved, and destroyed more vehicles, according to Iraqi military officials. The U.S.

Another, smaller convoy of about 55 ISIS trucks was wiped out by Iraqi Mi-28 attack helicopters using unguided rockets and cannons as the fighters tried to escape Fallujah earlier this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vRVyEViXx4

There are conflicting reports over exactly how many vehicles and militants were involved in the two strikes, but Iraqi officials have said that as many as 450 fighters were killed and over 700 vehicles destroyed.

Photo Credit: MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images

Paul McLeary was a staff writer at Foreign Policy from 2015-2018.

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