MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines and Sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve have successfully completed their deployment, and are excited to return to Camp Lejeune to reunite with their families.

 Under the operational control of the Combined Joint Task Force-OIR, the Marines provided fire support and counter battery fires for force protection purposes to Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition ground operations in the vicinity of Makhmour, Iraq. 

The detachment, known as Task Force Spartan, was comprised of Marines and Sailors of the MEU Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 2/6 and Combat Logistics Battalion 26.

The 26th MEU was deployed aboard the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations – the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean November 2015 to April 2016. Marines aboard ARG shipping returned home at the beginning of May.