For the first time in nearly two and a half years, US jets launched airstrikes in Iraq from an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. The strikes were carried out on September 23rd by two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the USS Nimitz, a spokeswoman for the Bahrain-based US 5th Fleet told Stars and Stripes on Monday.
“The last such strike was by USS Theodore Roosevelt in [March] 2018,” Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich said. Rebarich only said the attacks were carried out in Iraq and did not elaborate on targets.
Operation Inherent Resolve, the anti-ISIS coalition fighting in Iraq and Syria, reported airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in Kirkuk, Iraq, on that same day. It is likely that these strikes were carried out by the carrier-launched jets, but Stars and Stripes could not confirm this.
Launching the strikes from an aircraft carrier is a significant escalation in the US air campaign on ISIS. The USS Nimitz transited through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf with an accompanying strike force on September 18th.
With the Trump administration ramping up its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, the Nimitz patrol is no doubt a show of force aimed at Tehran. Launching airstrikes from the carrier is also likely meant to send a signal to Iran.
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What ISIS — poor deluded people. ISIS is long gone. There are no rabbit holes in Iraq hiding ISIS in the world below. Financing gone — no fighters, simple. Even Al-Qaeda makes a last appearance in Syria — then we rebrand it three tines to change Al-Qaeda label to something equivalent to “rebel”. Just to find it in cahoots with Oscar winning White Helmets, cleaning jointly cadavers of beheaded people!
So, what is the REAL reason for strike?
Iran and Iraq forming strategic partnership. That is what. It is embarrassing that — while celebrating UAE and Bahrein’s diplomatic relationship, the country hosting US forces , Iraq is making bug plans with Iran.
How many civilians did we kill in this one? And, is this the “October surprise”? A stinking war?
Collateral damage never matters to war criminals.
I look at this, and I see a very old ship staggering along in Forever Wars. USS Nimitz first deployed to the Mediterranean Sea on 7 July 1976. That is over 44 years ago, and now it just arrived on station for yet more new wars, restarting Iraq bombing as a threat to Iran of a new war.
This is a symbol of America’s wars and foreign policy. This ship first deployed under President Gerald Ford. It was before Jimmy Carter, well before the Reagan Era even started.
It bombs on and on. Forever Wars.
These are our “warriors?” Don’t make me laugh. Real warriors know what honor is. They don’t hang out in the sea and shoot missiles at people or operator killer drones from thousands of miles away.
” Operation Inherent Resolve ” is to remain in Iraq one way or another.
Permanent war for permanent profits.
It seems as if ISIS is unbeatable, they just keep going and going and going.
Like al Qaeda. We have claimed to have killed more of their leaders than they had actual members when we first attacked Afghanistan.