NEWSROOM

Press Secretary: Carter Wants to Push Harder in Counter-ISIL Effort
June 6, 2016 — Though significant progress that is being achieved, Defense Secretary Ash Carter wants to push harder in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters today... MORE

Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, left, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve commander, talks with Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after a meeting in Baghdad, Oct. 20, 2015. MacFarland is the U.S. point person for coordinating the campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with Iraqi officials.

Navy Launches Counter-ISIL Sorties From Mediterranean Sea
June 3, 2016 — The Navy’s Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group launched combat sorties from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea today in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over Syria and Iraq, according to a news release from U.S. European Command... MORE

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Raimon Hubbard directs an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea, June 3, 2016. The USS Truman and its Carrier Strike Group are supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. The Hornet is assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 25.

Fights to Retake Fallujah, Manbij City From ISIL Begin
June 3, 2016 — The fights started last week aimed at wrenching control of two major cities in Iraq and Syria from the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are expected to be difficult, U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Pat Ryder said today... MORE

This U.S. Central Command graphic, “Isolating the Islamic State of Iraq and The Levant,” released June 3, 2016, depicts how retaking Manbij, Syria, will further cripple the terrorist organization, U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Pat Ryder told Pentagon reporters. DoD graphic

Fallujah’s Liberation From ISIL Control Progressing, Official Says
May 27, 2016 — Iraqi security forces operations backed by the U.S.-led coalition are progressing toward liberating the key Iraqi city of Fallujah from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant control and killed the city’s ISIL commander, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told Pentagon reporters today... MORE

As Strikes Weaken ISIL, Work Remains, Air Component Commander Says
May 26, 2016 — The U.S.-led coalition can strike Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant capabilities any time and anywhere while very deliberately cutting impact on civilians, the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command said today... MORE

Centcom Commander Visits Iraq and Syria
May 22, 2016 — Over the past two days, during Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel’s latest trip to the Middle East, the U.S. Central Command chief met in Iraq and Syria with coalition members, other partners, senior commanders and military leaders to discuss operations and continued collaboration there... MORE

OIR Commander: ISIL Campaign Shifts Toward Taking Mosul and Raqqa
May 20, 2016 — The military campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is at an important juncture, with a new focus and steady progress by the U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi and Syrian security forces partners, Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland said here today... MORE

Dunford: U.S. Troops in Iraq Reinforce Success, Bolster Iraqi Actions
May 19, 2016 — People who say U.S. troop increases in Iraq are a “band-aid approach” or an incremental effort are missing the point, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today... MORE

OIR Spokesman: Attacks in Baghdad Show ISIL Reverting to ‘Terrorist Roots’
May 18, 2016 — The recent rash of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant attacks in Baghdad that have killed hundreds of civilians likely reflects a shift in enemy tactics, Army Col. Steve Warren, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said today... MORE

Centcom Commander to Focus on Partnerships, Complexities During AOR Visit
May 18, 2016 — On his third trip in seven weeks to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, Centcom’s commander said today, he aims to strengthen relations with partners there and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s complexities... MORE

A member of the Iraqi Federal Police trains on a firing range, March 17, 2016. En route to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility May 18, 2016, Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the Centcom commander, said Iraqi security forces are “a willing, recognized partner on the ground” in the coalition campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.