Ike continues airstrikes against ISIL from Eastern Mediterranean Sea

U.S. Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (Ike CSG) has continued airstrikes against ISIL under operation Inherent Resolve, launching sorties from the Eastern Mediterranean on December 6.

At the same time, elements of the 22nd marine expeditionary unit (MEU) continued conducting precision air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Sirte, Libya, from amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning to support Libyan government of national accord-aligned forces fighting there.

The Ike CSG returned to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations Dec. 4. During the carrier’s previous stint in the U.S. 6th Fleet, embarked aircraft completed 16 sorties from June 28 to July 7.

Ike CSG consists of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), carrier air wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto and USS Monterey, and destroyer squadron (DESRON) 26 with associated guided-missile destroyers USS Roosevelt, USS Mason, and USS Nitze.

“U.S. 6th Fleet is fighting ‘Daesh’ on multiple fronts, simultaneously supporting three combatant commanders. As a flexible, adaptive force, we are committed to defeating Daesh, we are committed to our NATO allies and partners, and we are ‘where it matters, when it matters,'” – Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, said