"Naval Aviation rejoined the fight against ISIL [Islamic State] November19 when AV-8B Harriers from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron… launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge to conduct their first missions over Iraq," the US Navy stated on its official website on Thursday.
The airstrikes were the first US Navy-launched air attacks against ISIL forces in Iraq since a strike on October 17 from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, according to the statement.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group is operating as part of the US 5th Fleet whose area of operations includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
The US armed forces have stepped up the tempo of their airstrikes against ISIL targets following the success of Russian air campaign in cooperation with the Syrian army in driving back ISIL forces.
