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Sailors conduct pre-flight inspections on an E/A-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf, Oct. 18, 2016. Ike and its Carrier Strike Group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert J. Baldock

Oct. 26, 2016

OIR Commander Cites Momentum in Mosul Push; Raqqa Isolation to Begin 'Soon'

WASHINGTON — Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, told Pentagon reporters that Iraqi forces continue to make steady progress in the effort to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter meets with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris prior to a small group defense ministerial to discuss efforts to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Oct. 25, 2016. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley

Oct. 25, 2016

Noose Tightening Around ISIL in Mosul, Carter Says

WASHINGTON — The contributions of coalition partners in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are invaluable, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the opening of the counter-ISIL small group defense ministerial at Hexagone Balard, the new French defense ministry building in Paris.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, host a press conference at the task force's headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 22, 2016. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley)

Oct. 25, 2016

Carter, Inherent Resolve Commander Brief Operations in Iraq, Syria

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, updated reporters yesterday on operations in Iraq and Syria during a news conference in Irbil, Iraq.

U.S. Air Force pilot prepares an F-22 Raptor for take off from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Oct. 21, 2016. F-22 Raptors are one of several coalition airframes providing close air support to ground forces working to liberate the city of Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tyler Woodward)

Oct. 25, 2016

Amid Heavy Resistance, Iraqi Forces Make Solid Progress

WASHINGTON — While Iraqi and Kurdish forces face heavy resistance from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant about 10 miles out from Mosul, Iraq, Pentagon press operations director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today that there continues to be solid progress in the efforts to liberate the city from ISIL control.

A U.S. Airman pours dry concrete into a volumetric mixer during runway repair operations at Qayyarah West airfield, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2016. The 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineering Group has been tasked to repair the runway after The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) destroyed it to disrupt Coalition forces from gaining control in the area. A Coalition of regional and international nations have joined together to enable Iraqi forces to counter ISIL, reestablish Iraq’s borders and re-take lost terrain thereby restoring regional stability and security. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Brecht)

Oct. 24, 2016

US Air Force engineers repair runway in Iraq

BAGHDAD – Three months ago, four U.S. Air Force engineers with the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group arrived in northern Iraq to conduct a reconnaissance mission for what would become a historic undertaking. The engineers were told their task had never been attempted in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses troops at the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve headquarters in Baghdad, Oct. 22, 2016. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley

Oct. 23, 2016

Carter Meets With Iraqi Prime Minister, Addresses Troops in Baghdad

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad and spoke with troops there about the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the ongoing military campaign to retake the city of Mosul.

Sgt. Michael Kane’s security platoon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, 2009. Kane deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. While returning to Camp Leatherneck from Forward Operating Base Nowzad, Kane’s convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device, injuring Kane and the other two Marines in the vehicle. Today, Kane is the fuels pit non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Oct. 21, 2016

Extraordinary Sacrifice, Exceptional Leadership

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES — The sun blazed. Sand blasted everything in its path. A Marine sat in a turret, squinting and looking around for eminent danger. The sound of tactical vehicles made a thunderous sound traversing the dirt terrain. Just as his convoy crested a hill an explosion rocked the earth — and then darkness.

Iraqi soldier, assigned to 3rd Iraqi Army Brigade, zeros his AK-47 rifle at Camp Taji, Iraq, Oct. 8, 2016. Coalition forces regularly train Iraqi soldiers on marksmanship skills which enable more effective and accurate shooting. This training is part of the overall Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve building partner capacity mission to increase the security capacity of Iraqi security forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Wooten)

Oct. 19, 2016

Iraqi Forces Have Momentum in Fight for Mosul, Says OIR Commander

WASHINGTON — Iraqi forces have momentum in the fight to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the U.S. commander of Operation Inherent Resolve's ground troops said today.

Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, visits Task Force Strike, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq. Coalition troops arrived to Qayyarah West Airfield to enable the Iraqi Security Forces to defeat Da'esh by providing logistical, engineering and artillery fires in support of the liberation of Mosul. The mission of Operation Inherent Resolve is to defeat Da’esh (an Arabic acronym for ISIL) in Iraq and Syria by supporting the Government of Iraq with trainers, advisors and fire support, to include aerial strikes and artillery fire. (USMC photo by Capt. Ryan E. Alvis/Released)

Oct. 18, 2016

Iraqi Troops Advance Toward Mosul as ISIL Tries to Hide Movements

WASHINGTON — Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga security forces are working together as they advance along several axes to liberate Mosul, Iraq, from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant control, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, director of Pentagon press operations said.

161016-N-IE397-166 ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 16, 2016) An E/A-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). Ike and its Carrier Strike Group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Christopher A. Michaels)

Oct. 18, 2016

Iraq, Syria Make Significant Strides Countering ISIL, Press Secretary Says

WASHINGTON — In Syria and Iraq, local ground forces backed by the U.S.-led coalition have made significant progress over the past two days in the fight to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters today.