Apache Helicopters Take Action in Mosul Offensive

AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships are flying night combat missions in support of the offensive to take the last major stronghold of the Islamic State in Iraq, a U.S. general said Wednesday.

"They've been flying at night, supporting any nighttime operations that the Iraqis are doing" since the Mosul offensive started Monday, Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky said of the Apaches in a video briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon.

"That platform has a lot of capability to see a long range at night and use its weapons system in a standoff capacity to strike targets, and that's what they're doing," said Volesky, commander of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

The Boeing Apaches, armed with a 30mm chain gun and four hardpoints for Hellfire missiles, are the latest U.S. contribution to the offensive, including airstrikes, intelligence, HIMARS rocket artillery systems, .155mm artillery and more than 100 U.S. advisers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, or JTACs, moving forward with advancing columns to guide coalition warplanes.

Volesky said he wanted to clear up a "misconception" that the JTACs were on the front line with friendly forces calling in airstrikes. "They're primarily at the brigade level, but they're not forward at the front line of the troops -- tip of the spear," he said.