PHOTOS: Meet the U.S. troops deployed near Mosul
PHOTOS: Meet the U.S. troops deployed near Mosul
Col. Rhett Champagne, the commander of the U.S. Air Force 821st Contingency Response Group, stands on the airstrip a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman lays on the ground as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. flag hangs on the wall of a command and control center at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. service members, including soldiers from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division use computers and prepare to eat inside a tent at at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force service member Dennis Marshall, 26, from Memphis, Tenn., uses his radio at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. military personnel sit in a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman stands inside a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force airmen take cover as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force service member uses radio communication at the command and control center inside a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Col. Rhett Champagne, the commander of the U.S. Air Force 821st Contingency Response Group, stands on the airstrip a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Col. Rhett Champagne, the commander of the U.S. Air Force 821st Contingency Response Group, stands on the airstrip a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman lays on the ground as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman lays on the ground as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. flag hangs on the wall of a command and control center at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. flag hangs on the wall of a command and control center at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. service members, including soldiers from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division use computers and prepare to eat inside a tent at at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. service members, including soldiers from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division use computers and prepare to eat inside a tent at at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force service member Dennis Marshall, 26, from Memphis, Tenn., uses his radio at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force service member Dennis Marshall, 26, from Memphis, Tenn., uses his radio at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. military personnel sit in a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. military personnel sit in a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman stands inside a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force airman stands inside a bunker as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force airmen take cover as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. Air Force airmen take cover as an incoming mortar alarm is called at a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force service member uses radio communication at the command and control center inside a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
A U.S. Air Force service member uses radio communication at the command and control center inside a coalition air base in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. The U.S. military says Iraqi forces have retaken 40 villages from the Islamic State group near Mosul since a massive operation to drive the militants from the city began last week. It says Iraqi troops are consolidating gains made east and south of the city earlier this week, but insisted “momentum” was still on their side. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)