Fort Campbell soldiers are among the many fighting to reclaim the largest city in Iraq that’s still under ISIS control.
The 101st Airborne out of Ft. Campbell is helping to lead an all-out effort to take back Mosul - located about five hours north of Baghdad.
The operation was months in the making and got underway Monday morning.
Iraqi forces are set in position just outside the city armed with machine guns and heavy artillery, following heavy aerial bombardment and shelling overnight.
The U.S. military has provided air and ground support.
Mosul has been under control of Islamic State militants since June of 2014
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said the Mosul campaign is a "decisive moment" in the effort to defeat the Islamic State.
