Tri-Service

Harriers Deployed In Fight Against IS

US Marine AV-8B Harrier jets have joined the fight against IS.

5 years after America bought all of Britain’s 77 Harrier aircraft for the sum of £110 million, the jets are now being deployed against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

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Launching from American aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge, Lt. Col. Brian T Koch, commanding officer of the Marine Medium Tillrotor Squadron, based on the ship and in charge of the Harrier fleet, said:

"We will continue to work with our coalition partners to drive ISIL out of Iraq and Syria. We operate around the clock to defend America, and to keep our families at home safe."

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group along with their coalition partners "are here to degrade and destroy ISIL's current operations under OIR," said Capt. Augustus P. Bennett, commander of the Group.

"The combined ARG-MEU team is an expeditionary Navy/Marine Corps force that stands ready and has been trained for these types of operations. We're here to assure our allies, deter any adversaries and provide a persistent U.S. presence here in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations."

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