US Air Force launched first Offensive airstrike against ISIS near Baghdad
Monitoring Desk: The United States launched first “offensive” airstrike against ISIS terrorists near Baghdad on Monday.
The airstrike was requested by Iraqi forces under attack. It may be mentioned that US destroyed Iraqi Air Force and army during US conflict with former Iraqi President Sadaam Hussain.
Associated Press reported that the airstrike was authorized after Iraqi security forces requested air power support as they engaged Islamic State fighters south of Baghdad.
An unnamed defense official meanwhile told NBC News that the most recent air attack near Baghdad was an “offensive” strike, as that there was no suggestion that militants were making headway towards the country’s capital.
Previous airstrikes in Iraq were characterized by the US as “defensive” in nature, as they were used to protect American diplomatic sites as well as crucial Iraqi facilities like the Mosul Dam.