Condition Active In use 2016- Year built 2016 | Built by Iraqi Armed Forces Battles/wars Third Iraq War | |
Controlled by United States Marine Corps
United States Army Owners Iraqi Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces | ||
U s soldiers execute fire missions in support of iraqi army elements from kara soar base iraq
Kara Soar Base is an American fire support base in northern Iraq.
Contents
History
In early 2016 in support of a planned Iraqi offensive against ISIS-held Mosul, US forces established a firebase called Bell, approximately 15 miles from ISIS lines. 200 US Marines and 8 US Army Soldiers emplaced and manned at least 4 M777A2 howitzers.
One Marine was killed in a rocket attack on 19 March, just days after arriving; direct attacks on the base dropped off in the following weeks as the Iraqis captured surrounding villages. The Marine howitzers fire every day in support of Iraqi maneuvers, using high explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds.
By March 30, 2016, the Pentagon renamed the base to "Kara Soar Counter Fire Complex" to reinforce the notion that the firebase was conducting "defensive missions." However some point after the base was renamed to Kara Soar Base.