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Rrobiek, a Belgian Malinois military working dog, and his handler, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles Ogin, 3rd Infantry Regiment, bond with each other during work Feb. 15 in Baghdad, Iraq. Rrobiek is a patrol and explosive detector dog who works hard with Ogin to ensure the safety of everyone inside the entry point gate at Union III in Baghdad. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Anna Pongo)

Feb. 24, 2017

Military working dog serves in Iraq on his second deployment

Baghdad, Iraq — "The capability they [Military Working Dogs] bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory." -- Gen. David Petraeus Rrobiek, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, was born to be a hero. He was bred and trained to serve and protect the people he works with. Currently, those people are members of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command in Iraq.

From left, Coastal patrol ship USS Monsoon (PC 4) and French Marine Nationale anti-air frigate FS Forbin (D620) participate sail side by side during exercise Khunjar Haad. Khunjar Haad is an annual, multilateral exercise conducted with the Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Navy and French Marine Nationale designed to develop the necessary skills to address threats to freedom of navigation and international commerce. USS Monsoon is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce and enhance regional stability. (Photo by (Courtesy photo of Royal Navy))

Feb. 23, 2017

U.S., Oman, France and U.K. Commence Exercise Khunjar Haad

MUSCAT, Oman — The U.S. Navy with the Royal Navy of Oman, the Royal Navy and French Marine Nationale kicked off the 22nd iteration of Exercise Khunjar Haad, an annual multilateral mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise in the Gulf of Oman, Feb. 19.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Johnathan Riethmann, a mortarman with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 4th Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, walks to a staging area at Senoor Beach, Oman, in preparation for Exercise Sea Soldier, Feb. 15. Sea Soldier 2017 is an annual, bilateral exercise conducted with the Royal Army of Oman designed to demonstrate the cooperative skill and will of U.S. and partner nations to work together in maintaining regional stability and security. USS Somerset, with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce and enhance regional stability.

Feb. 23, 2017

US Marines, Omani Soldiers begin Exercise Sea Soldier 17

SALALAH, Oman — SALALAH, Oman - Launching from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) off the coast of Oman, more than 250 U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG)/11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began training alongside soldiers from the Royal Army of Oman’s 11th Brigade for Exercise Sea Soldier in

An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon refuels from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Feb. 15, 2017. The 340th EARS extended the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists by delivering fuel to Air Force F-16s, A-10 Thunderbolt II’s and a B-52 Stratofortress. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Castelan

Feb. 22, 2017

OIR Official: 'Conditions Have Been Set' for ISIS Defeat in Western Mosul

WASHINGTON — Iraqi forces are advancing into western Mosul and making steady gains in efforts to liberate the area from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, said Air Force Col. John Dorrian, Inherent Resolve spokesman.

Army Staff Sgt. Jenna Vaughn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command’s Iraq Train and Equip Funding noncommissioned officer, inspects bulldozers received for ITEF July 12, 2016 in Southwest Asia. Armored bulldozers such as these were provided through DLA Troop Support’s Heavy Equipment Procurement Program and will allow Iraqi combat engineers to more effectively clear convoy routes of roadside bombs and other threats in the ongoing fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Feb. 22, 2017

C&E sends heavy equipment to support Iraq, counter ISIL

PHILADELPHIA — Armored bulldozers and track loaders provided by Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support are playing a role in protecting Iraq from the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Army Pfc. Oluwemimo Alenbayo, a signal support systems specialist attached to 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, fills an Advanced System Improvement Program tactical radio in a vehicle at Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq, Feb. 9, 2017. The brigade conducted a communications exercise in preparation for the upcoming Iraqi security forces offensive into West Mosul. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull

Feb. 21, 2017

Iraqi Security Forces Move in to Liberate West Mosul, Official Says

WASHINGTON — Since operations began over the weekend to retake West Mosul from two years of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria control, Iraqi security forces have already retaken more than 48 square miles of ISIS-held territory near the city, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Iraqi Defense Minister Arfan al-Hayali at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad, Feb. 20, 2017. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley

Feb. 20, 2017

Mattis Meets With Middle Eastern Leaders

WASHINGTON — On his first trans-Atlantic trip in his current post, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis met with leaders from three U.S. allies in the Middle East, according to a news release issued by the Defense Department.

Iraqi army Lt. Hager Haider, Iraqi ranger instructor, coaches an Iraqi ranger trainee Jan. 23, 2017, on Camp Taji, Iraq. The training was part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve's mission to increase the effectiveness of Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Army photo by Spc. Derrik Tribbey

Feb. 20, 2017

Mattis Praises Resilient Iraqi Army During Baghdad Visit

WASHINGTON — During his first trip to Baghdad as defense secretary, Jim Mattis praised the Iraqi army and noted those forces are now focused on liberating west Mosul.

U.S soldiers execute a fire mission to support Iraqi security forces during the Mosul counteroffensive in northern Iraq, Dec. 24, 2016. The soldiers are assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Strike, which is supporting the Iraqi forces with indirect fire in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Army photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson

Feb. 19, 2017

Iraqi Security Forces Begin Operations to Liberate West Mosul

SOUTHWEST ASIA — The government of Iraq and Iraqi security forces announced the commencement of operations to liberate western Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joe “Slap” Goldsworthy, an Airman assigned to the Italian air force 132nd Groupo as part of the Military Personnel Exchange Program, prepares to taxi in an AMX A-11 Ghibli at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan. 11, 2017. The Italian unit provides “tac recce” support using Rafael Reccelite tactical reconnaissance pods to provide precise, high-definition imagery to coalition leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. R. Alex Durbin)

Feb. 16, 2017

Air Force exchange pilot fights ISIS with Italian coalition partners

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR — In the air war to degrade and ultimately defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, an air coalition of 20 nations from around the world work together to equip, inform and deploy air forces across the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.