Defense Secretary Ash Carter says Apache used in Iraq combat

A senior defense official said more than one Apache flew the mission, although only one struck; the official said an ISIS target was destroyed.

There was no immediate word how many ISIS fighters were killed in the US strike.

Asked if USA troops are now involved in “offensive combat”, Carter said: “We’re dropping bombs everyday, we’re firing missiles, we have people who are advising”.

Mosul fell to ISIS two years ago in June 2014.

While the Abadi government has repeatedly rejected Obama Administration proposals to start using US Apache helicopters in offensive operations in Iraq, the Pentagon was still positioning them in the country and getting them ready for use.

This is the first strike by Apache helicopters in the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq since Carter offered them during an April trip to Baghdad.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, speaking in Brussels, said the strike was in support of a campaign by Iraqi forces to encircle and eventually retake Mosul.

Officers involved in the operation said Iraqi forces had advanced in tanks and armoured vehicles towards the village of Haj Ali, about 60 km (40 miles) south of Mosul, under cover of coalition airstrikes and artillery fire.

Carter said the operation took place at the request of the Iraqi government.