Posted on 10/05/2014 9:42:51 AM PDT by GonzoII
WASHINGTON — The U.S. has begun using Apache AH-64 attack helicopters to strike at ISIS targets inside Iraq, the first time the aircraft have been used for offensive strikes since arriving in Baghdad in early July.
Their use opens up a new capability in the airstrike campaign against ISIS in Iraq, but one that also comes with risks, as they could be vulnerable to ground fire.
A defense official confirms that Apache helicopters were used this weekend as part of four airstrikes on a large ISIS force northeast of Fallujah. The attack was conducted in coordination with Air Force fighter aircraft that supported the operation.
A press release by U.S. Central Command said the air strikes near Fallujah “struck two mortar teams, a large ISIL [ISIS] unit and two small ISIL units.”
The official confirmed that the strikes were the first use of the Apache helicopters that were deployed to Iraq in early July.
Several Apache helicopters were included in an additional deployment of several hundred U.S. military personnel sent to Baghdad o reinforce security at U.S. embassy facilities and access to the Baghdad Airport.
The deployment of the attack helicopters was intended to be defensive nature, but their offensive capabilities are now being used against ISIS. Any restrictions on their use for offensive purposes were presumably lifted in early September when President Obama announced that offensive air strikes could be used against ISIS targets.
Apache helicopters can be used to provide close air support for ground troops, but can also fire Hellfire missiles at enemy targets from several miles away. The use of long-distance sensors and missiles lessens the potential exposure to small arms fire the helicopters could face in a ground combat situation. The aircraft are still vulnerable to small arms...
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Ping.
These are called targets. Damn Obama.....
Who is calling the shots on the ground?
We are supposedly not putting any boots on the ground, so where is our intelligence coming from?
Still won’t complete job without a large ground troop deployment and we have the best force in the world.
Why would Obama, McCain and Clinton give al Qaeda
MANPADs (20,000) and put AMERICANS in Harm’s Way?
how long before libtards say we can’t call them apache helicopters?
I’d hate to be flying low altitude missions over these animals.
Ask the same about Afghanistan, struck from the air with Big Bang drones for 13 years yet the Taliban somehow still keep attacking us. A big gun isn’t worth anything if you can’t accurately hit with it.
‘Sounds to me like those boots are getting a lot closer to “on the ground”.
so we have Boots in the air?
obonzo is a pos who has nearly destroyed our standing in the world.
How long before an Apache gets shot down?
This should be the Redskins owner’s response.
Apache losses to hostile fire were very low during the Iraq war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aviation_shootdowns_and_accidents_during_the_Iraq_War
http://madmax.lmtonline.com/textarchives/032304/s5.htm
Blog about the failure of the AH-64 Longbows at the Karbala Gap. Helicopter gunships are meant to be used as part of an air ground task group — preferably in support of mechanized infantry. You should not send them in alone. The planners of the strike at Karbala evidently forgot this rule.
Have you read anything to indicate that Apaches are being employed as they were at Karbala in 2003? If so, it would be the first time this were done in over 11 years.
Carpet bombing with B-52’s would be better IMHO.
Boots on the ground - The Apaches land somewhere
Will the pilots be given cyanide pills?
I would not want to be a kaffir air pirate captured by the Islamic State. At all.
There still isn’t an Operation name yet for this conflict is there?
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