'A shift to closer combat': Apache helicopters used for strikes on Iraq for first time

Brett T. | 7:11 PM on October 05, 2014

CENTCOM has announced that helicopters joined bombers and fighters in the fight against ISIS for the first time this weekend.

https://twitter.com/CENTCOMCGPAO/status/518774726303703040

Today's summary. No allies involved. “@CENTCOMCGPAO: 3 strikes in Syria and 6 in Iraq. Helicopters used for first time in Iraq for strikes.”

— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) October 5, 2014

The Army Times reports:

Army pilots for the first time used an Apache attack helicopter to strike Islamist militant targets in Iraq over the weekend, according to a statement by CENTCOM.

On Oct. 4, “U.S. military forces used attack bomber, fighter and helicopter aircraft to conduct six airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq” the command said in a Sunday morning release, and a CENTCOM official confirmed to Defense News that the helicopter was an Army Apache attack helicopter, but would not specify where it flew from or what munitions it used.

Apaches can fire Hellfire missiles from a significant standoff distance, and are capable of “teaming” with manned and unmanned aircraft to share information, and designate targets.