Soldier killed in IS operation ‘hard not to be friends with’

Joshua Wheeler, 39, was this week identified as the first American soldier to die in combat against the Islamic State group in Iraq and applauded as a hero by defense secretary Ash Carter.

“As the compound was being stormed, the plan was not for the USA… forces to enter the compound or be involved in the firefight”, Carter said.

“Americans are flying combat missions, thousands of combat missions, over Syria and Iraqi territory”, Carter said at a Pentagon news conference at which he rejected charges of “mission creep”. Carter said that when a firefight ensued, Wheeler responded, enabling the mission to succeed.

At least nine other USA service members have died of non-combat causes during Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS.

“The additional support I’ve mentioned today does not represent a change in our strategy, but it does represent a change in our approach to achieving it. I’m determined that we continue to adapt to get results”, he said.

Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler of Roland, Oklahoma was advising a group of peshmerga commandos when he heard them come under attack inside an Islamic State prison. The Pentagon had said earlier that five Islamic State militants were captured; six to 20 of the jihadists were killed, according to various reports. That’s why I’m proud of him…

Wheeler’s heroism, Page said, provided teachers and school officials with a chance to remind their students that American soldiers across the globe are fighting to protect people in need.

“When the people you are training go into combat, you want to go with them to show your support, that’s part of the deal”, said CNN military analyst retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who once served near Hawija, Iraq, where the raid took place.

“Yesterday, the United States of America lost one of her finest warriors doing what American troops do best – protecting those who can not protect themselves”, Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland, commander of the fight against Islamic State, said in a statement.

Iraqi officials also said a few oil was smuggled into Kurdish areas of Iraq, though a member of the Iraqi Kurdish parliament denied this.

The Islamic State rakes in up to $50 million a month from selling crude from oil fields under its control in Iraq and Syria, part of a well-run industry that US diplomacy and airstrikes have failed to shut down, according to Iraqi intelligence and USA officials.

Speaking to The Associated Press in Washington, he said worldwide actors in the region were intentionally or unintentionally aiding this effort and called ISIS’ management of its oilfields “increasingly sophisticated”, something that has helped the group slow the degradation of its infrastructure from US bombing raids. “USA forces are not in an active combat mission in Iraq”.

He said it was in keeping with the parameters of the USA military’s role in Iraq. Cook called it “consistent with our counter-ISIL effort to train, advise and assist Iraqi forces”.

At the time of his final mission, the highly decorated soldier was assigned to Army Special Operations Command headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“The question leaders must ask is whether the risk of advisers going forward is worth the benefits of improved performance in Iraqi troops”, he said.