U.S. Navy’s carrier strike group centered around aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush has started air strikes against ISIL from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The strikes, which started on February 13, are in support of the U.S. operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) aimed at fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The George H.W. Bush carrier strike group entered the Mediterranean Sea Feb. 2, and will continue to provide support to allies and partners, deter potential threats and conduct strikes against ISIL operators and infrastructure in support of OIR.
The GHWBCSG consists of flagship aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Hue City (CG 66), and DESRON-22 guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103).
On their mission in the Mediterranean, U.S. Navy ships are joined by the Danish frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes which set sail from Denmark on January 26.
“The precision strike operations being carried out by the Bush Carrier Strike Group in the eastern Mediterranean Sea continue to demonstrate the tremendous warfighting capability and flexibility of the U.S. Navy,” Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady , commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, said. “By defeating violent extremists in Iraq and Syria, we are simultaneously supporting two separate geographic combatant commands. We remain committed to defeating Daesh, committed to our allies and partners, and committed to global security.”
The most recent aircraft carrier strike group to operate in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations was the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG). The Ike CSG conducted strikes from the eastern Mediterranean Sea in support of OIR June 28-July 7, 2016, and Dec. 6-12, 2016, completing 1,899 sorties in support of OIR.