Kara Soar Base
| Kara Soar Base | |
|---|---|
| Makhmur, Iraq | |
| Site information | |
| Owner |
Iraqi Armed Forces United States Armed Forces |
| Controlled by |
United States Marine Corps United States Army |
| Condition | Active |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2016 |
| Built by | Iraqi Armed Forces |
| In use | 2016- |
| Battles/wars |
 Third Iraq War |
Kara Soar Base is an American fire support base in northern Iraq.
History
In early 2016 in support of a planned Iraqi offensive against ISIS-held Mosul, US forces established a firebase called Bell, approximately 15 miles from ISIS lines. 200 US Marines and 8 US Army Soldiers emplaced and manned at least 4 M777A2 howitzers.
One Marine was killed in a rocket attack on 19 March, just days after arriving; direct attacks on the base dropped off in the following weeks as the Iraqis captured surrounding villages. The Marine howitzers fire every day in support of Iraqi maneuvers, using high explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds.[1]
By March 30, 2016, the Pentagon renamed the base to "Kara Soar Counter Fire Complex" to reinforce the notion that the firebase was conducting "defensive missions." [2] However some point after the base was renamed to Kara Soar Base.
Units
- Battery E, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Task Force Spartan) between at least March and April 2016.
- Battery HHB, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Between at least March and June 2016.
- Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Task Force Strike) between at least June and August 2016.