US-led Coalition Forces conduct live-fire aerial operational exercises

Middle East, News, US February 4, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S.-led Coalition Forces conducted aerial operational exercises using a variety of munitions near the Erbil region in Iraq, on February 2, 2023.

According to the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) statement, the exercises would “validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness.”

The statement highlighted, “These exercises ensure the Coalition’s continued capability to support our partner forces and protect our Coalition forces. Extensive planning and proper safety measures are taken before and during live fire rehearsals in order to protect the Coalition and the local population.”

On January 8, 2023, Coalition Forces also conducted an operational exercise at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq that involved engaging an Unmanned Aerial System.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve advises, assists, and enables partner forces in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIS and secure lasting peace. According to the CJTF statement, the mission also “enables the establishment of enduring security cooperation frameworks.”

Last month, the Department of Defense announced that the United States Central Command conducted 313 operations in Iraq and Syria in 2022 as part of its mission to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. About 700 ISIS fighters were killed and another 374 were detained in the U.S.-led operations in Iraq and Syria, while none of the U.S. service members were killed in those missions.

^{A UH-60 Black Hawk with the 7th General Support Aviation Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 11th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) flies during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, on June 6, 2022. (Image Credit: Maj. Karl Cain/Combined Joint Task Force)}

According to U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East, Dana Stroul, the U.S. mission to defeat the ISIS group in Iraq and Syria remains “a key priority of the national defense strategy.”

She added that “Our partners across the world recognize the importance of this mission, recognize that ISIS still remains a threat, and are committed to this coalition.”

The United States continues its presence in Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces and conduct intelligence-sharing missions. Commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane highlighted that the U.S. continues to retain a presence in Iraq, at the invitation of the Iraqi government.