Posted on Apr 6, 2016
Pentagon: U.S. may set up more small outposts in Iraq
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Initially military officials said the base was set up purely to provide force protection for Iraqi forces and U.S. advisers at the nearby Iraqi base in Makhmour.
But soon after, the Marines were firing illumination rounds to help the Iraqi forces locate IS fighters, and also firing artillery rounds in support of the operation, as Iraqi troops took control of several villages on the outskirts of Makhmour, southeast of Mosul. The Marine remained well behind the front lines.
Lewis said that setting up another similar base as the Iraqi forces move toward Mosul is "dependent on what's happening on the ground" and in the military campaign.
"As Iraqi security forces progress toward isolating Mosul, there may be a situation in which there is another base," he said, adding that it could be a former U.S. outpost and would be used to provide artillery fire from behind the front lines.
"Their mission is to provide fires and support of Iraqi forces, just like we do with airplanes, just it's surface-to-surface fires (versus) air-to-surface fires," he said. "Same concept, very accurate."
He added that additional security measures have been put in place at Fire Base Bell since an attack on the outpost several weeks ago.
Marine Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, of Temecula, California, was killed by rocket fire in that attack. The Marines at the fire base are part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been based on the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship that has been deployed in the region.
Pentagon officials have said they are on a temporary, short-term deployment into Iraq.
During the years of the Iraq war, U.S. forces set up a number of small forward operating bases or combat outposts around the country.
Lewis also noted there has been a recent name change for Fire Base Bell. It's unclear why the military changed names, but the new name — the Karasoar Counterfire Complex — reflects the Iraqi location and appears to focus more on its security mission rather than a combat role.
But soon after, the Marines were firing illumination rounds to help the Iraqi forces locate IS fighters, and also firing artillery rounds in support of the operation, as Iraqi troops took control of several villages on the outskirts of Makhmour, southeast of Mosul. The Marine remained well behind the front lines.
Lewis said that setting up another similar base as the Iraqi forces move toward Mosul is "dependent on what's happening on the ground" and in the military campaign.
"As Iraqi security forces progress toward isolating Mosul, there may be a situation in which there is another base," he said, adding that it could be a former U.S. outpost and would be used to provide artillery fire from behind the front lines.
"Their mission is to provide fires and support of Iraqi forces, just like we do with airplanes, just it's surface-to-surface fires (versus) air-to-surface fires," he said. "Same concept, very accurate."
He added that additional security measures have been put in place at Fire Base Bell since an attack on the outpost several weeks ago.
Marine Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, of Temecula, California, was killed by rocket fire in that attack. The Marines at the fire base are part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been based on the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship that has been deployed in the region.
Pentagon officials have said they are on a temporary, short-term deployment into Iraq.
During the years of the Iraq war, U.S. forces set up a number of small forward operating bases or combat outposts around the country.
Lewis also noted there has been a recent name change for Fire Base Bell. It's unclear why the military changed names, but the new name — the Karasoar Counterfire Complex — reflects the Iraqi location and appears to focus more on its security mission rather than a combat role.
Pentagon: U.S. may set up more small outposts in Iraq
Posted from armytimes.com
Pentagon
Iraq
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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That is interesting news SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I hope that the USA will allow our deployed forces to respond to attacks against their outposts is Iraq, Kurdish areas and in the Sinai for that matter. I hope they will also receive timely intel and be able to participate if required in missions to interdict ISIS, al Nusra Front and any other forces will evil intensions.
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More than a couple of generals, now retired...or forced to retire...said the same thing before we pullled out of Iraq. The U.S. is great about mobilizing for war, but not so good at leaving a war zone. One of the key elements discussed by those leaders was to maintain a "node" of forces in the region to monitor activity and train were practical. They were right...they are still right...and we should adopt that strategy for the sake of our allies and our country. Just an opinion.
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