U.S. Troops Are Now Near The Front Lines Against The Islamic State In Iraq

Washington Post: U.S. troops are getting closer to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq

MAKHMOUR, Iraq — At the base of a rocky ridge rising from the surrounding farmland, the barrels of American artillery poke out from under camouflage covers, their sights trained on Islamic State-held positions.

Less than 10 miles from the front lines in the push toward the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the U.S. outpost, known as Firebase Bell, is manned by about 200 Marines.

“Having them here has raised the morale of our fighters,” said Lt. Col. Helan Mahmood, the head of a commando regiment in the Iraqi army, as his truck bumped along the dirt track that divides his base from the American encampment, ringed by razor wire and berms.

“If there’s any movement from the enemy, they bomb immediately,” he said.

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WNU Editor: As the above graph shows .... mission creep has become the U.S. policy and strategy in Iraq .... and casualties are expected (see previous post).