The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit took on the Islamic State and made it home for the holidays.
More than 2,500 Marines and sailors returned last week to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, concluding an eventful six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Aden aboard the Amphibious Ready Group Wasp.
Since August, the MEU's V-8B Harriers and AH-1W Super Cobras from the Wasp and San Antonio pounded ISIS in Libya to support ground troops with the United Nations-backed Libyan Government of National Accord.
Known as Operation Odyssey Lightning, the campaign culminated in ISIS’ defeat in the country earlier this month when Sirte, the extremist group’s last remaining stronghold, fell to the GNA.
In all, 495 U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS in Sirte.
The Marines also conducted amphibious operations in the Black Sea in July as part of Exercise Sea Breeze.
Co-hosted by the U.S. and Ukraine, it was the 15th iteration of the multinational training event designed to beef up the militaries’ ability to work together by air, land and sea.
Also in July, approximately 350 Marines went ashore in Israel to conduct live-fire, urban operations and counter-terrorism training with the Israeli Defense Forces as part of Exercise Noble Shirley.
The 22nd MEU also worked side-by-side with the Omani Royal Police to hone evacuation of non-combatants.
