Pentagon: US may set up more small outposts in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will consider opening more small military outposts that would provide artillery support and other aid to Iraqi forces as they prepare to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, a senior military officer on the Joint Staff said Wednesday.

Initially military officials said the base was set up purely to provide force protection for Iraqi forces and U.S. advisers at the nearby Iraqi base in Makhmour.

[...] soon after, the Marines were firing illumination rounds to help the Iraqi forces locate IS fighters, and also firing artillery rounds in support of the operation, as Iraqi troops took control of several villages on the outskirts of Makhmour, southeast of Mosul.

The Marines at the fire base are part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been based on the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship that has been deployed in the region.