2014 War Against the Islamic State

AH-64E Apache attack helicopter in the 2014 War Against the Islamic State

U.S. Army AH-64E Apaches from Task Force Saber operated from Camp Erbil and Erbil, Iraq, in 2017, providing air support, reconnaissance, attack capability, and fires for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS.

Weapon profileAH-64E Apache attack helicopter
SideAnti-ISIS coalition and partner forcesRoleFire SupportReconnaissance & Surveillance
AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - 2014 War Against the Islamic State
Image source: Task Force Saber Air Mission

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
U.S. Army AH-64E Apaches from Task Force Saber operated from Camp Erbil and Erbil in January and July 2017 during Operation Inherent Resolve.

Sources: Task Force Saber Air Mission, AH-64E Apache OIR

The AH-64E provided battlefield air support, reconnaissance, attack capability, and fires support in the fight against ISIS.

Sources: Task Force Saber Air Mission, AH-64E Apache OIR, Task Force Saber Initiative

Task Force Saber paired reconnaissance and surveillance from RQ-7Bv2 Shadow aircraft with fires platforms that included AH-64E Apaches.

Sources: Task Force Saber Initiative

Timeline

AH-64E Apache attack helicopter In 2014 War Against the Islamic State

  1. AH-64E photographed departing Camp Erbil

    A Task Force Saber AH-64E Apache from Bravo Troop, 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment took off from Camp Erbil for an air mission request during Operation Inherent Resolve support to partner forces.

    Sources: Task Force Saber Air Mission

  2. AH-64E documented at Erbil for reconnaissance and attack

    An AH-64E Apache from Task Force Saber was photographed at Erbil before a mission, with DVIDS identifying its role as reconnaissance and attack capability in the fight against ISIS.

    Sources: AH-64E Apache OIR

  3. Task Force Saber role described in unit reporting

    DVIDS reporting described 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment as equipped with AH-64E Apache helicopters and supporting Iraqi security forces with fires against ISIS.

    Sources: Task Force Saber Initiative

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The AH-64E Apache is directly documented in the anti-ISIS campaign through U.S. military imagery and unit reporting from Iraq in 2017. A DVIDS image taken at Camp Erbil on January 10, 2017 identifies a U.S. Army AH-64E from Bravo Troop, 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Saber taking off for an air mission request and says U.S. Army aviation was enabling partnered forces with battlefield air support.

A second DVIDS image taken at Erbil on July 11, 2017 identifies an AH-64E Apache from 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Saber and states that the aircraft provided reconnaissance and attack capability in the fight against ISIS for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

Sources: Task Force Saber Air Mission, AH-64E Apache OIR

Timeline

On January 10, 2017, Task Force Saber AH-64E aircraft were photographed departing Camp Erbil for an air mission request as part of the coalition air-support mission.

By July 2017, DVIDS reporting described 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment as equipped with AH-64E Apache helicopters and supporting Iraqi security forces with fires. The same reporting described the AH-64E as one of the fires platforms used in tandem with RQ-7Bv2 Shadow reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft.

Sources: Task Force Saber Air Mission, Task Force Saber Initiative, AH-64E Apache OIR

Narrative

Task Force Saber placed the AH-64E inside the coalition's Erbil-based aviation support to Iraqi and partner forces. The documented roles were not limited to aircraft presence: the source material connects the helicopters to air mission requests, battlefield air support, reconnaissance and attack capability, and fires support.

The clearest unit-level description came from DVIDS reporting on 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. It described the squadron as an enabling force for the coalition, said it supported Iraqi security forces with fires, and identified the AH-64E Apache as part of the fires-platform package used with Shadow reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft to find and strike ISIS personnel.

Sources: Task Force Saber Initiative, Task Force Saber Air Mission, AH-64E Apache OIR

Images

Conflict Context

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache hovering at Erbil, Iraq, before an Operation Inherent Resolve mission in July 2017
A Task Force Saber AH-64E Apache at Erbil, Iraq, before a mission for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve on July 11, 2017.

Sources: AH-64E Apache OIR

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Sources