WASHINGTON — The U.S. military says that for the first time in the nearly two-year-old air campaign against the Islamic State, strike aircraft flew counter-ISIS missions from Navy warships in two different regions — the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers on Thursday flew from aboard the USS Boxer in the Gulf to provide what Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, called simultaneous strikes with combat planes flying off the USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean.

The strike targets were not disclosed.

The Truman aircraft carrier strike group had been flying combat missions over Iraq and Syria from the Gulf, prior to moving into the Mediterranean about two weeks ago. It is due to return to the U.S. soon.

160616-N-UG095-058 ARABIAN GULF (June 16, 2016) An AV-8B Harrier II, assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), launches from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) to conduct missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Boxer is the flagship for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 13th MEU, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael T. Eckelbecker/Released)

An AV-8B Harrier II, assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), launches from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Arabian Gulf on June 16, 2016, to conduct missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Photo Credit: MC3 Michael T. Eckelbecker/Navy

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