Cardin was deployed in Iraq with Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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While Marines have been deployed to Iraq alongside those special forces in the past year, previously acknowledged roles have mainly included diplomatic security and training Iraqi forces. Two Islamic State fighters were killed and none of the Marines was wounded in that attack. For now, the artillery is to defend another nearby base where American troops are getting 5,000 Iraqi forces ready for the operation to retake Mosul.
US troops are in Iraq to train and advise local forces.
The coalition refused to publicly reveal the exact number of USA troops now in Iraq, with Warren only telling reporters that it was within 3,870 troops. The Marines were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military’s campaign against ISIS, the website reported. There are no Iraqi forces at Firebase Bell, Warren said. The detachment will augment Marines and sailors already fighting ISIS, officials said Sunday.
Warren also said that Carter and his fellow Marines “were targeted specifically”, and “we have to expect that there will be attacks”.
“This is the first time we have established a spot that is only American”, he said, adding that it was several hundred meters (yards) from an Iraqi base.
The U.S. military had not disclosed the presence of American troops in the region, raising fresh questions about U.S. participation in the fight against Islamic State to aid partners in its ground offensive against the militants. “Two days prior to the death of the marine, Secretary of State, John Kerry declared that Islamic State has committed genocide against Christians, Yazidis and Shiite Muslims in Syria and Iraq”. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.
“I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong, but I’m also not going to telegraph our punches”, Warren said.
Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin was killed by enemy fire in northern Iraq on Saturday, March 19, 2016.
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The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, took to Twitter yesterday to say there are heavy hearts across the Marines Corps and to express his condolences to Cardin’s family.
