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DoD Officials: Local Forces in Libya, Syria Gain Ground Against ISIL
August 12, 2016 — Local forces engaged in tough fighting in Libya and Syria against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are gaining ground against the terrorist army, a Defense Department spokesman said today... MORE

160810-N-JW440-083 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Aug. 10, 2016) An AV-8B Harrier, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) Aug. 8, 2016. The 22nd MEU, embarked on Wasp, is conducting precision air strikes in support of the Libyan Government of National Accord-aligned forces against Daesh targets in Sirte, Libya, as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rawad Madanat/Released)

Arming the air war
August 11, 2016 — Supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and the 20-nation air coalition working diligently to rid the Middle East, Central Asia and Northern Africa of extremist violence, the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing has employed over 2,000 weapons since the beginning of 2016... MORE

Munitions Airmen assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron move bombs from a rapid assembly conveyer at an undisclosed location. Over 2,000 munitions have been built and employed on enemy targets since the beginning of 2016. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Sybil Taunton)

OIR Campaign Reached Turning Point in Ramadi, Commander Says
August 10, 2016 — The Iraqi security forces’ liberation of Ramadi from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant control marked the turning point in Operation Inherent Resolve’s fight against ISIL, OIR Commander Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland told reporters today... MORE

Iraqi soldiers assigned to the Iraqi army’s 76th Brigade, 16th Division, march past the reviewing stand during the brigade’s graduation at Camp Taji, Iraq, June 28, 2015. Through advise, assist and build partner-capacity missions, the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s multinational coalition has trained more than 10,000 Iraqi security force personnel to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Army photo by Sgt. Charles M. Bailey

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq
August 10, 2016 — Department of Defense Press Briefing by Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq... MORE

ISIL Knows It Will Lose, Already Shifting Strategy, Obama Says at Pentagon
August 4, 2016 — After presiding at a meeting of his National Security Council in the Pentagon today, President Barack Obama said Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant leaders know they will lose in Syria and Iraq, and they are already shifting their strategy in advance of that sure defeat... MORE

President Barack Obama, center, Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Defense Secretary Ash Carter greet each other during a meeting of the National Security Council at the Pentagon, Aug. 4, 2016, to discuss the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley

OIR Spokesman Details Progress Degrading ISIL in Syria, Iraq
August 3, 2016 — Coalition forces, along with partners on the ground in Iraq and Syria, are furthering gains in countering the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said today... MORE

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ARABIAN GULF (July 31, 2016) – An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Wildcats of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 taxis onto the catapult on 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 Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J. Alexander Delgado/Released)

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Garver via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq
August 3, 2016 — Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Garver via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq... MORE

Iraqi Military Demonstrates New Skills in Mosul Campaign
August 2, 2016 — Military personnel unfortunately are all too familiar with the IED – improvised explosive device – and the VBIED – vehicle-borne IED. But not too many service members are familiar with the TreeBIED or the FridgeBIED... MORE

An aerial view of the Tigris River as it flows through Baghdad, July 31st, 2016. (DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro)

Iraqi Leaders Showing Confidence, Optimism in ISIL Fight, Dunford Says
July 31, 2016 — The biggest change in Iraq is the sense of confidence and optimism that leaders have “that absolutely didn’t exist last fall,” Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said after a full day of meeting with Iraqi, U.S. and other coalition leaders in Baghdad and Irbil... MORE

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, in Baghdad, July 31, 2016. Dunford is visiting Iraq to assess the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro

Votel Impressed by Iraqi Leaders’ Rising Confidence in Counter-ISIL Fight
July 28, 2016 — Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel said the Iraqi government and its military are confident in the approach they are taking and their ability to accomplish the mission. Votel spoke about his command with NBC’s Richard Engel at the Aspen Security Summit in Colorado today... MORE

U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel Commander of U.S. Central Command, meets with U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Clifford Wiggins, Command Sgt. Maj. 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and members of the Jordanian Armed Forces during Exercise Eager Lion 16 near Amman, Jordan on May 22, 2016. Eager Lion 16 is a US military bi-lateral exercise with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan designed to strengthen relationships and interoperability between partner nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lauren Falk 5th MEB COMCAM/Released)