Iraq

The Pic of the Day: One sea, two aircraft carriers

The aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), top, and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transit the Arabian Sea March 18, 2020. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central […]

Another Coalition base in Iraq attacked with rockets

Two rockets struck a training base south of Baghdad where U.S.-led coalition troops and NATO trainers are present, Iraq’s military said in a statement on Tuesday. The rockets hit the Basmaya base outside of Baghdad on Monday evening. They impacted near a factory and what was described as agricultural land, but not where any troops […]

US base in Iraq comes under yet another rocket attack, several wounded

The Iraqi base that houses American and Coalition troops in Taji was rocked with another rocket attack on Saturday morning. Just three days ago, on Wednesday, another attack at the same base killed two Americans and a British soldier at Taji. Three coalition troops and two Iraqis were wounded in the rocket attack, Coalition spokesperson […]

US airstrikes against Kara’ib Hizbollah are well-warranted

The United States launched multiple airstrikes against Iranian-led Shia militias across Iraq in response to the latest rocket attack on the base at Taji that houses coalition troops. In the Taji attack, two U.S. and one U.K medical specialist were killed, with 12 wounded, five of them seriously.  The American airstrikes began at 1:00 a.m. […]

US strikes back at Iranian proxies behind deadly rocket attack in Iraq

In response to the deadly rockets against a Coalition base in Iraq, the U.S. military conducted targeted strikes against an Iranian-backed militia believed to be behind the attack. According to the Department of Defense (DoD), the airstrikes targeted five weapon storage facilities of the Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), a Shia paramilitary terror group. KH is believed […]

Two Americans, one British soldier killed in Iraq by rocket attack

The American military has confirmed, in a released statement, that a rocket attack on an Iraqi base, where U.S. and coalition troops are based, has killed an American and a British soldier and an American contractor. The three men were killed on Camp Taji base as 18 Katyusha rockets slammed into the base on Wednesday […]

A Marine without legs and eyes but with a determination to motivate others

THE STORY OF CPL MATTHEW R. BRADFORD, USMC (RET) We all raised our right hands and swore an oath to our country for different reasons. By taking that oath we all chose service, and understood, at least partially, the potential dangers and sacrifices that come with serving. But when you’ve sacrificed your legs and your […]

Pentagon identifies fallen Marine Raiders killed in Kurdistan

The Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) has identified the two Marine Raiders, who were killed in action, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, March 8. The two Critical Skills Operators killed in action are Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, a critical skills operator from Simi Valley, Calif., and Capt. Moises A. Navas, a special operations officer […]

Breaking: Two Marine Raiders killed in Kurdistan fighting ISIS

Two American Special Operations advisors to the Iraqi Special Forces were killed during an operation against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants in the Qarachogh mountain region of northern Iraq on Sunday, the U.S.-led coalition released in a statement Monday. “Two U.S. service members were killed by the enemy while advising and accompanying Iraqi Special Forces during […]

The Video of the Week: The life and deeds of Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV

Chief Special Warfare Operator Charles Keating IV was killed during a firefight with ISIS forces in May 2016. He was part of a quick reaction force (QRF) that was trying to rescue a joint American-Kurdish force that came under attack by scores of ISIS fighters. For his heroism in the battle, SOC Keating received the […]

Female linguist arrested for exposing undercover human assets to Iran

An American woman who was working as an Arabic linguist for the Department of Defense (DoD) has been arrested for passing highly classified information to Iranian proxies. Mariam Taha Thompson, a civilian contractor, has been charged with transmitting intelligence of national-level importance to a man with known connections to Hezbollah, a Lebanese political and terrorist […]

Det One and MARSOC: The secret drama behind Marine Special Operations

With the recent 14th anniversary of Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), the latest addition to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), it is important to remember how it all came to be a reality. Much has been discussed about the success of MARSOC, but less is known about why it was formed — and what […]