Jordan has integral role in anti-Daesh — US navy commanders

CARL VINSON/ARABIAN GULF — Almost 50 per cent of US-led air strike missions against the Daesh terror group are conducted by fighter jets from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, according to US navy commanders.

So far, the US has conducted 3,000 air strikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, 1,500 of which were from the Carl Vinson, according to official figures.

Carl Vinson is currently deployed with the US Fifth Fleet area of operations along with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve — strike operations in Iraq and Syria — as directed, maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation efforts conducted with US allies in the region.

In a meeting with international journalists on board the Carl Vinson, Commanding Officer Captain Karl O. Thomas said operations against Daesh conducted by the US along with the coalition of 60 countries has succeeded in degrading the terror group's operations and expansion in Iraq and Syria.

Thomas said when the Daesh threat started they were able to move, resupply and coordinate efforts, conduct attacks, take over cities and establish governorates, “but it is pretty hard now”.

He explained that fighter jets fly over Daesh-controlled territory to monitor their capabilities and take out vital targets.

The US intervention is being conducted at the request of the Iraqis, Thomas stressed.

“What we are trying to do is to allow Iraqis to re-govern their country, re-establish their borders and put the country together… to support them and provide some training to their forces,” he said, and this will not happen overnight, but the goal is to build Iraqis' ability to defend themselves and re-establish their own governance.

The commanding officer noted that operations started six months ago and “we don’t know when we will finish.”

Although he did not mention the cost of leading the operations against Daesh from the Carl Vinson, Thomas said daily US operations cost $8 million.

Built almost 33 years ago, the ship is designed to last for 50 years.

Jordan's role

Jordan has an integral role in the fight against Daesh and as a member of the coalition, according to US commanders.

“Jordan is one of our strongest allies in the region; obviously they help us in the strikes, and they have a lot of inspiration and influence,” Thomas said in response to a question by The Jordan Times.

However, each country in the coalition has an essential role and “the coalition deployment is key to our operations.”

Commenting on the death of Jordanian pilot Muath Kasasbeh, Matt Leaheg, Air Wing 17 captain, said the incident did not affect the intensity of strikes and operations.

“We constantly investigate the threat… we have not changed our operations since the Jordanian pilot was lost… our operations have affected their [Daesh] freedom to manoeuvre,” Leaheg told The Jordan Times.

Thomas agreed. “We look at the threat continuously and there has been no change in our operations after the incident with the Jordanian pilot.”

However, the policy towards using social media has changed after Daesh published names of US pilots online as part of a "kill list".

“We take the list of pilots that ISIS [Daesh] issues very seriously and review our policy on what we are posting on social media,” said Rear Admiral Christopher Grady, commander of Carrier Strike Group 1.

“We need to be smart on how to safeguard the information, not to have a lot of social media presence,” said Thomas.

Forty-one Navy and Marine Corps service members were named on the Daesh list.

Carl Vinson tour

During a tour of the Carl Vinson, organised recently by US NATO, the commanders said there are around 64 jets aboard that include fighter jets (Super Hornet, Hornet and F-18) in addition to helicopters (Sea Hawk) and tail-hooks.

Journalists spent more than 24 hours aboard and witnessed the takeoff and landing of jet fighters that are being sent on missions against Daesh over Iraq and Syria, and sometimes for training purposes

Each operation takes up to six hours, according to the commanders, who noted that jets are refuelled while in air.

“A lot of people are behind that and making lots of efforts,” said Thomas, adding that even when the aircraft leaves the deck, there are takers there from other countries that provide the fuel for the plane to stay up for a long time over Iraq and Syria.

“There are forces on the ground providing information to the aircraft,” he said, adding that the Carl Vinson, with its 5,000 crew members is like a city. 

“Launching the 1,500 operations that we have done takes a lot of efforts.”