(Image source from: US carrier launched first strike from Arabian Gulf})
The US Navy has initiated carrier-based strike from the Arabian Gulf. It is the first such operation of US navy. Earlier, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group has left the Gulf last year in October.
US Navy said in a statement that, “Strike aircraft from nuclear powered aircraft carrier US Harry S. Truman flew their first missions in support of ‘Operation Inherent Resolve’ (OIR) on December 29.”
OIR is the fight, which destroyed the Daesh terror group.
“Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 join French nuclear powered aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91) in conducting combined combat operations in Iraq and Syria from the Arabian Gulf,” the Navy added.
Commander Rear Adm. Bret Batchelder said that, all the abilities which has brought by his force to the fight are an essential part of the DIME (diplomatic, informational, military and economic) equation.
Batchelder said, "Warfighting is the priority; that's why we are here. We provide the hard power in the collective DIME, and look forward to contributing however, we can. Dual carrier operations with the French, allow us to maximize our firepower and provide a unique opportunity to further progress against ISIS [Daesh]. It validates our abilities to successfully operate as an international coalition, while conducting very dynamic operations."
Capt. Fredrick Luchtman, commander, CVW 7, said that the pair of carriers worked together during the fight.
"We complement each other in that, while one carrier is able to fly sorties in the country to support OIR, the other carrier can conduct maintenance and prepare for the next
day, The carriers can then swap, which allows us to put more sorties in the country, while we partner in this operation," he added.
On the other hand, The Charles de Gaulle has been operating fighters in the Arabian Gulf since November 23, 2014.
French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said, "The war is being played out here, and the strategy is starting to pay off. Everywhere our sensors show that Daesh is going on the defensive as shown in the loss of Ramadi.”
Nandini
