Military Operations in Afghanistan & Iraq

Images depict military personnel engaged in various operations, featuring soldiers in action, planning, and interacting in camp settings in deployment zones.

040422-M-8096M-020. Base: Najoy State: Kandahar Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

Captain Dan Greenwood, USMC, S-3 Operations Officer, Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) addresses an audience of Marines and Army soldiers in his bivouac site at Kandahar International Airport, Kandahar, Afghanistan, during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Kandahar International Airport Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: 26 MEU

040616-F-5789F-005. Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

070324-M-6412C-050. Complete Scene Caption: U.S. Marines with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines ride inside of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle as they search the surrounding area for signs of Anti Iraqi Force activity during Operation Zaidon II on March 23, 2007. Task Force 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines is conducting Operation Zaidon II in Zaidon, Iraq to clear the city of Anti Iraqi Forces and deny them further use of the area in the future. Regimental Combat Team 6 is deployed with Multi National Forces-West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Anbar Province of Iraq to develop Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by CPL. Samuel D. Corum) (Released) Subject Operation/Series: ZAIDON Base: Zaidon State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: RCT-6

030206-M-5753Q-040. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 7th Marines

060418-A-6365W-004. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Forward Operating Base Remagen State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 101ST

030304-M-5150A-009. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Ripper Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 7th Marines

040614-M-5555L-019. Base: Camp Ali State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030221-M-8539K-010. Base: Camp Matilda Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 1ST Marine Division

040422-M-8096M-020. Base: Najoy State: Kandahar Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

U.S. Army Second Lt. Mark Lucas, a platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, briefs his soldiers before a logistics resupply mission July 8, 2012, at Forward Operating Base Arian, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Mission briefs are mandatory for every soldier who will take part in the mission.

030318-M-0175R-002. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: USS Nassau (LHA 4)

060226-A-7969G-018. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Forward Operating Base Speicher Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: A1-187

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to weapons squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment pose for a photo before patrolling Rusafa, Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 18, 2008.

051010-A-1327A-024. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF76

041115-M-3658J-001. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040601-M-0706S-009. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Al Shahabi State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060815-N-5914D-001. Base: USS Boxer (LHD 4) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

A US Marine Corps (USMC) Marine assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, takes a well-deserved break, after conducting Security and Stabilization Operations (SASO) in Al Ubaydi, Iraq, during operation Matador. Al Ubayid, located along the Syrian border, is believed to be one of the main entry points for foreign insurgency. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are conducting Security and Stabilization Operations (SASO) in Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Ubaydi State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060118-A-7969G-031. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Cooke (TAJI) State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

041214-M-0173F-013. Complete Scene Caption: U.S. Marine Corps GEN. Michael W. Hagee (center), Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), listens attentively as CPL. Brad D. Widener, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1ST Marine Division (MARDIV) explains how well his Trijicon TA31RCO-A4 Advanced Optical Combat Gunsight (ACOG) night vision system for his 5.56 mm M16A2 rifle with 40 mm M203 grenade launcher attachment works during night patrols and raids during the CMC visit to Camp Ar Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2004. The 1ST MARDIV is engaged in Security and Stabilization Operations (SASO) in the Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance CPL. Benjamin J. Flores) (Released) Base: Camp Ar Ramadi State: Ar Ramadi Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060220-A-7969G-027. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fob Summerall State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: B1-187

040321-F-4539R-018. Base: Tallil Air Base State: Dhi Qar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

041122-M-0173F-013. Base: Camp Blue Diamond State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060124-A-7969G-014. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Cooke (TAJI) State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 4BGECA

051007-A-5563H-012. Base: New Orleans State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: B Btry 1/160th FA

030308-M-5753Q-014. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Ripper Country: Kuwait (KWT)

U.S. Marine Rests After a Combat Operation Inside an MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

030206-M-5753Q-134. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 7th Marines

030224-M-8539K-057. Base: Camp Matilda Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 1ST Marine Division

070302-A-0515W-037. Base: Fort Stewart State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

050523-A-8255A-027. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fob Mchenry State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040324-M-5753Q-039. Base: Rawah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Stewart ANGB, Newburgh N.Y. - Senior Master Sgt Jeff Sheehy, a 105AW C-17 dedicated crew chief with fellow aircraft maintainers aboard a Stewart C-17 Globemaster III awaiting a flight to Wright Patterson AFB Ohio, to provide recovery operations for 105AW aircraft sent there before hurricane Irene affects the Hudson Valley Aug.26, 2011.

U.S. Army Infantrymen assigned to the East Africa Response Force (EARF) participate in an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) to provide security at the U.S. Embassy, Mogadishu, Somalia, April 22, 2022. The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa deploys the EARF to support Department of State partners in fixed-site security and evacuation support to protect U.S. Government facilities and personnel and to enable U.S. Embassies to continue operations in challenging security environments.

U.S. Army Spc. Trent McIlwraith, of Edmond, Okla., a combat medic for Bravo Company, 1-179th Infantry, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, administers an I.V. to Tech Sgt. Gevoyd Litlle, of Columbus, Ohio, an explosive ordinance disposal technician supporting taskforce force Maverick in Operation Lionheart on Sept. 12.

060105-A-5745M-068. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MNT 2ND BDE

Air Force ROTC cadets from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University visited the 149th Fighter Wing to get a first hand look and what an operational fighter wing looks like behind the scenes at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 10, 2022. The tour was put together by members of our various maintenance units who gave gave unique insights into what it takes to be successful as a leader in todays military. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Mancuso)

040920-F-1646R-025. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

030214-M-5753Q-006. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Larry Sarmieto (left), of Company C, 4th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, of Plant City, Fla., CW2 Ryan Williams (right), of Company B, 4-227th ARB, Portville, N.Y., both AH-64D Apache attack helicopter pilots, assemble the newly issued Improved Outer Tactical Vest, Feb. 3, at Fort Hood, Texas, for their upcoming deployment to Iraq later this year.

040513-M-2900S-043. Base: Al Asad State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Twenty Minnesota National Guard, four Croatian, and three Canadian Soldiers are competing in Minnesotas Best Warrior Competition March 29 - April 1, 2023, at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minnesota. The annual competition tests the military skills, physical strength and endurance of the top Soldiers and noncommissioned officers nominated by units across the state. This year two of Minnesotas longstanding partner nations, Croatia and Canada, have sent competitors to participate. Minnesotas winners will move on to compete against the best Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from multiple states at the Region IV Best Warrior Competition hosted by the Ohio National Guard in May.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Leonard Nevarez, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle operator with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, posts security at entry control point 1 during Bright Star 23 at Logistics Staging Area Menar El Wahesh, Egypt, Sep. 2, 2023. Bright Star 23 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command exercise held with the Arab Republic of Egypt across air, land, and sea domains that promotes and enhances regional security and cooperation, and improves interoperability in irregular warfare against hybrid threat scenarios. Nevarez is a native of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

060420-N-2568S-169. Country: Djibouti (DJI)

050904-F-3109T-001. Base: Burlington International Airport State: Vermont (VT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-07872. Base: Cairo West Country: Egypt (EGY)

Straight on medium shot of US Marine Corps General Anthony Zini (Left), Commander-in-CHIEF, US Central Command as he inspects troops from First LAR (Light Armored Reconnaissance) Wolfpack Platoon, during Brightstar 1999-2000 held thoughout October and November in Egypt. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHTSTAR 1999-2000 Country: Egypt (EGY)

040614-M-5555L-037. Base: Camp Ali State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

At a forward operating base during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU (SOC)) pack themselves into a KC-130/R Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-352 (VMGR-352) for a flight to Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: 26th MEU

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment takes off his boots and sprawls out on his rack in the shade in an attempt to get some rest before he must start radio watch on Forward Operating Base Marjah, March 30. The construction of the base began in early March and serves as a key center of operations within the city of Marjah, Afghanistan.

United States Marine smoking cigarette inside MRAP during a combat operation in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

041119-M-2583M-069. Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040909-M-1226J-012. Base: USMC Recruit Depot,Parris Island State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030214-M-5753Q-003. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT)

060223-N-7586B-137. Base: Salman Pak State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Army Sgt. Max Free, from the 67th Engineer Detachment, attached to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and his military working dog search a barn during a patrol in Dura'iya, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2008. The village is known to have recently been occupied by insurgents.

AL HAMRA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (June 18, 2022) - U.S. Marines assigned to Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Central Command load magazines with ammunition during exercise Iron Defender 22 at Al Hamra training camp, UAE, June 18. Iron Defender is an annual bilateral training event between U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and forces from the United Arab Emirates. The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, mine countermeasures and harbor defense.

040825-A-6748E-011. Base: Forward Operating Base Normandy State: Diyala Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040607-M-0706S-033. Base: Al Shahabi State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 1/5, B Co.

050904-A-1327A-244. Base: Forward Operating Base Salerno State: Khowst Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: Northeast

070410-A-9834L-012SANGIN, Afghanistan - A special forces team medic assigned to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan applies medical treatment to another Soldier who received shrapnel wounds from an RPG explosion while battling Taliban fighters in the Sangin District area of Helmand Province April 10. The Soldier was able to continue fighting minutes later.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. presents Spc. Chris Armstrong, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, with a coin Aug. 11, at Patrol Base Assassin, Iraq. Gen. Casey visited Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan last week.

030210-M-2067M-001. Base: Usmc Recruit Depot,Parris Island State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030224-M-5753Q-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Ripper Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 7th Marines

041110-M-9597P-036. Base: Mcrd San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

031206-F-0881Z-020. Base: Baghdad International Airport Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

030420-M-5607A-033. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

SENIOR AIRMAN (SRA) Reese Lind (left) and STAFF Sergeant (SSGT) Becky Dutcher move a star barrier to align it with others at a forward location in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

050403-A-5345M-186. Base: Tikrit State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

011024-F-0308N-114. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 2001 Country: Southwest Asia Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

070225-M-4393H-016. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Taqaddum Air Base State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: II MEF (FWD)

USMC Marines from Headquaters and Headquarters Squadron recieve the Navy Achievement Medal for their involvement with the Hurricain Floyd Relief party. Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030114-F-1789V-009. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

041221-M-2353F-011. Base: Camp Owen State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Holeman and Spc. Amy Rodgers perform maintenance on a vehicle at a patrol base in As Sadah, Iraq, April 6, 2007. Both Soldiers are from Charlie Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne Recon), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

U.S. Army infantry soldiers and Afghan National Army soldiers head out to patrol the surrounding villages of the Zhari District, Afghanistan, in order to secure the area for a new strong-point operating position being established by combat engineers assigned to the 864 Engineer Battalion, Team Animal; Sept. 15, 2010. The combat engineers have only 48 hours to establish a defensive perimeter and only six days to fully complete the construction of this new combat outpost whose strategic location is expected to help coalition Afghan security forces disrupt Taliban operations and allow movement of commercial and government traffic in the Zhari District.

060111-A-5745M-080. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Shakaria Village Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 101ST ABN DIV

021028-F-3873G-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown

040217-M-9656F-003. Country: Unknown

Spc. Bryan Alamo (right), an infantryman with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, clasps a helmet on Brad Fuller, film and television producer, Sept. 2, during the Distinguished Visitor Immersion Box Tour at Fort Irwin, Calif.

New U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, get their harnesses checked before conducting rappel training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Sept. 30, 2022. Rappel training was conducted to build confidence in Marines and prepare them for possible circumstances they may encounter.

030409-M-4419R-028. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier calls in a medical evacuation after a simulated chemical attack during a training mission near Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 25, 2007.

Readiness Challenge VIII participants listen to a score update on the final morning of competition April 22, 2022, at the Silver Flag Exercise Site, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The Department of the Air Force CE event is hosted by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center. After a 20+ year hiatus, the challenge, a premier event for DAF civil engineers, is back. This year's Readiness Challenge is the initial operating capability event before the challenge reaches full operational capability in April 2023. Eight teams representing major commands and U.S. Space Force faced off in about 20 events showing a wide variety of CE capabilities from emergency airfield lighting and water purification to building a guard shack from the ground up and firefighting and EOD operations.

030403-F-0981H-002. Base: Saint Kitts Country: Nevis (KNA)

980606-F-4116M-001. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 1998 Base: Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base State: Al Ahmadi Country: Kuwait (KWT)

120622-M-VD320-013TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (July 6, 2012) Corpsmen tend to Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 374 after a simulated car crash during a mass casualty training exercise, at the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field, at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Exercises like this are meant to help corpsmen get ready to work under stressful situations.

040614-M-5555L-018. Base: Camp Ali State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

031015-F-2185G-010. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Tallil Air Base State: Dhi Qar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

060329-N-9999X-003. Base: Panjshir Valley Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

A U.S. Marine Assembles an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

030513-F-8362B-009. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Scania Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030514-F-3267M-002. Base: Macdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

First Lt. Michael Falk, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., rescues a chick while poultry farmers load 6,000 of them onto trucks in Hawr Rajab, April 27. The chicks were purchased by the Baghdad-7 ePRT to help jump-start chicken farms in the area, which have suffered in recent years due to insurgent activity.

U.S. Army Cpl. Joseph Arevalos, of the 76th Brigade Combat Team, makes his way inside for a going away ceremony Jan. 2, 2008, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind. The Indiana National Guard is preparing to deploy its largest amount of Soldiers since World War II with more than 3,400 Soldiers scheduled to depart for Iraq to serve during their 12-month rotation.

U.S. Army Sgt. Corey Marchegiani, a cavalry scout with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, shows an Afghan National Police officer how to use the laser sight on his rifle in Pul-e-Sayad here Sept. 5. Marchegiani, a Hoosik Falls, N.Y., native, and other members of his platoon visited the district center in Pul-e-Sayad to continue work with the ANP as the Sept. 18 elections approach.

050201-F-9429S-012. Base: Karshni-Khanabad Air Base Country: Uzbekistan (UZB)

041113-M-2353F-010. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Army Sgt. Troy Stiner from Pittsburg, Pa., of the 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division puts a leash back on his dog Ruby after she detained U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Barriere from Ithaca, N.Y., as part of a demonstration of the capabilities of military working dogs to Iraqi police trainees at the Diwaniyah police academy in Diwaniyah, Iraq, Feb. 9, 2009. The Soldiers also conducted an assessment of the academy to ensure that they are getting the supplies they need.

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