Here are the US troops that are fighting on the ground (and in the air) for Mosul
SUMMARY
Iraqi security forces began the effort to liberate the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Oct. 17, with a combined force of Kurdish Peshmerga to the east aided by coalition troops from Germany, Canada and the U.S.
Obama Administration officials have admitted that American troops are "in harm's way" despite being in "support" roles. So, which units are actually there?
Perhaps the most obvious are the Air Force, Navy, and Marine aviation units flying missions against ISIS. One notable unit taking part is the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group. The carrier's air wing includes two squadrons of F/A-18E Super Hornets (VFA-86 "Sidewinders" and VFA-105 "Gunslingers"), one of F/A-18C Hornets (VFA-131 "Wildcats"), and one of F/A-18F Super Hornets (VFA-32 "Swordsmen").
Other aircraft have taken part, including the A-10 Thunderbolt (courtesy of the 190th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing), the B-52H Stratofortress (From the 96th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron), and the F-15E Strike Eagle (from the 4th Fighter Wing).
On the ground, the major United States forces have been the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, usually consisting of a medium tilt-rotor squadron with MV-22 Ospreys and a company of Marines. These units also can have attached air assets, including the V-22 Osprey, the AV-8B+ Harrier, and the AH-1Z Viper.
A battalion from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the Screaming Eagles, is also on the ground, slated to be replaced by troops from the 1st Infantry Division. The United States Army has also sent AH-64 Apache gunships to the theater.
Naturally, there are also special operations forces, including the Green Berets, SEALs and British SAS. It can also be safely assumed that Air Force Combat Controllers are also on the scene.
The Green Berets will likely be helping Iraqi security forces, advising Peshmerga troops and helping direct coalition air support. These units have in the past also carried out direct action missions. In 2015, one such mission, a prison break, lead to one of three American KIAs — a member of the United States Army's Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, better known as Delta Force, Master Sergeant Joseph Wheeler.
U.S. Troops Near the Front in #Mosul | @paulmcleary @ForeignPolicy #Iraq #ISIS https://t.co/Kp731dKZxy pic.twitter.com/hWFqJlUGbK
— RealClearDefense (@RCDefense) October 19, 2016
The other two American KIAs are Special Warfare Operator First Class Charles Keating IV, who was killed in a firefight with ISIS thugs, and Marine Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, who was killed in a rocket attack on a base used by coalition forces.
The fight for Mosul is continuing, with the word at this writing indicating that the Iraqi advance has slowed.
