U.S. Marines Providing Artillery Fire to Support Advancing Iraqi Ground Troops

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Friday he’s “pleased” to see Iraqi security forces beginning their advance to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State terrorists, and he said they’re doing it with the help of U.S. Marines on the ground.

Those Marines are providing artillery firepower for the advancing Iraqi troops.

Just five days ago, on Monday, a U.S. military spokesman announced that a 200-strong Marine detachment had been sent to the Makhmour area of Iraq to protect the Americans who are advising the Iraqi troops for the coming battle in Mosul.

The Marines were there for “force protection.” It is not a “combat outpost,” Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters on Monday. But he admitted that could change — and apparently, it has.

On Friday, Carter said, “The U.S. Marines we’ve sent near Makhmour, where Staff Sgt. Carter gave his life, are now providing artillery fire at the request of the Iraqis to help support the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) advance against the enemy and protect their forces. (Read more from “U.S. Marines Providing Artillery Fire to Support Advancing Iraqi Ground Troops” HERE)

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