Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander Combined Joint

Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, presents a soldier with a combat patch for the first time while visiting Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq. Specialist Marcus Rodriguez is a Culinary Specialist with Golf Company, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, Task Force Strike, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Coalition troops arrived to Qayyarah West Airfield to enable the Iraqi Security Forces to defeat Da'esh by providing logistical, engineering and artillery fires in support of the liberation of Mosul. The mission of Operation Inherent Resolve is to defeat Da’esh (an Arabic acronym for ISIL) in Iraq and Syria by supporting the Government of Iraq with trainers, advisors and fire support, to include aerial strikes and artillery fire. (USMC photo by Capt. Ryan E. Alvis/Released)