Attack Choppers Figure Prominently in Mosul Offensive
Coalition forces pushing deeper into the western half of Mosul are having difficulty penetrating densely populated neighborhoods where Islamic State (ISIS) fighters are hiding. High-powered weapons are of no use due to the risk posed on civilians while armored vehicles are not easy to maneuver on narrow streets.
For Capt. Lucas Gebhart, commander of the 4/6th Cavalry's Bravo Troop, the very congested nature of Mosul's west side presents new challenges for them. They also realize the need to be careful in going forward. For this tough situation, the unit relies on its Apache attack helicopters.
"We fly every day, weather permitting. We are firing missiles most of the time," Reuters quoted Gebhart in explaining their dependence on helicopter gunships to exterminate threats. "Our mission is to find and destroy ISIS. We are not here to kill the wrong people."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Based on an airfield in Qayyarah 60 kilometers south of Mosul, Gebhart's unit consists mostly of fathers and husbands, which is why they deliberately try to avoid unwanted civilian casualties. "The things we shoot from an Apache, they go where we want them to go," he said, referring to their use of guided missiles.
Gebhart narrated his personal experience with human shields while engaging a house when the enemies pulled a family out of the target. "The missile was already in the air but I was able to move it," he said on how he changed a rocket's course. "You've got a little bit of time. If something happens post-missile release, we have procedures to move it."
Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded in Baghdad, killing more than 20 people and wounding more than 45 others, AFP reported. The incident happened in a mainly Shia district in the southwestern capital Monday. ISIS which is losing ground in its occupation of Mosul claimed responsibility for the attack.
