News Articles

Dec. 14, 2016

OIR Commander Describes Counter-ISIL Campaign’s Successes

WASHINGTON — In a news briefing from Baghdad, the Operation Inherent Resolve commander described the U.S.-led coalition's successes in Iraq and Syria since 2014 in the campaign to bring lasting defeat to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Dec. 14, 2016

Compass Call targets ISIL through electronic attack

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Military operations are complex. Attacking an adversary requires significant coordination and communication between a commander and their fighters. The fog and friction of war means that even the best laid plans are often adapted on the fly, and competent leaders need the ability to redirect their forces in real-time in order to react to enemy actions. If a commander can’t issue orders, his capabilities are severely degraded and his likelihood of success plummets.

Dec. 14, 2016

Close relationships lead to accurate artillery in eastern Afghanistan

FOB GAMBERI, Afghanistan — (Dec. 16, 2016) — Artillery is consistently an Afghan Army success story. That's because it's devastatingly accurate, regularly destroying Taliban and Daesh targets as they unsuccessfully try to mass on district centers and other strategic locations. Nowhere is this more true than in Afghanistan's eastern provinces, where Train, Advise, Assist Command – East works with the Afghan 201st Corps to put rounds downrange. From artillery to mortars to air support, the Afghan colonel in charge of fire support here is passionate about pounding his enemies into submission; his TAAC-E advisors are equally passionate about ensuring he has what he needs to succeed.

Dec. 14, 2016

Iraqis Hold Line Against ISIL, DoD Spokesman Says

WASHINGTON — In the past 24 hours, Iraqi forces maintained their defensive positions against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters on three sides of Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, Pentagon press operations director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said today.

Dec. 13, 2016

Vermont ANG joins fight against ISIL

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Vermont Air National Guard arrived here Dec. 10, 2016, to join the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Dec. 12, 2016

728th AMS: 50 years of mobility support at Incirlik

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — For more than 65 years, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, has hosted many aircraft that countered the Cold War Soviet threat and has responded to numerous crises in the Middle East. From earthquakes, humanitarian relief operations, to wartime activities, Incirlik has been at the center of operations in that region of the world.

Dec. 11, 2016

Secretary Meets With Kurdistan Regional Government President in Iraq

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani in Irbil, Iraq, where the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and the key role Peshmerga forces have played in the counter-ISIL campaign.

Dec. 11, 2016

Carter, Iraqi Prime Minister Discuss Next Moves in Mosul Fight

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister‎ Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad, where the two leaders discussed the campaign to liberate the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists and other issues.

Dec. 11, 2016

Carter Arrives in Iraq to Thank U.S. Troops, Discuss Counter-ISIL Fight

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Iraq for a visit to recognize and thank U.S., coalition, and Iraqi troops engaged in the counter-ISIL campaign, survey key locations directly supporting the battle for Mosul, and to discuss the next steps in the fight, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.

Dec. 9, 2016

Raqqa, Mosul Liberations Progress as ISIL Loses Resources to Fight

WASHINGTON — The U.S.-led coalition and local ground forces continue to progress against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s self-proclaimed capitals of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve told Pentagon reporters today.