HEAVY LIFTING IN WESTERN IRAQ: This photo is revealing. A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook transports a M777A2 155mm howitzer as part of a sling load training exercise. U.S. forces remain in western Iraq — not that far from Syria.
RELATED PHOTO: A French Army self-propelled howitzer fires on Islamic State tagets near the Syria-Iraq border. This photo was taken December 5.