Editing M142 HIMARS (section)

===Afghanistan and the Middle East===
Three prototype HIMARS launchers were successfully used during the [[Iraq War]].<ref name="army_technology" /> The first US Marine Corps battalion equipped with HIMARS, the 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, was deployed to Iraq in July 2007.<ref name="army_technology" />

[[File:Fire support training 140313-A-DM872-123.jpg|thumb|A HIMARS launcher with armored cab]]
[[File:118th Airlift Wing C-130 unloads Tennessee National Guard equipment at Berry Field ANGB.jpg|thumb|A HIMARS launcher being loaded into a [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130 Hercules]] aircraft in 2011]]
[[File:USMC-090301-M-0000S-006.jpg|thumb|Reloading a HIMARS with a pod of six [[dummy round|training rounds]] in Afghanistan]]
In February 2010, the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) for Afghanistan indicated in a press release that two rockets fired from a HIMARS were believed to have fallen 300 metres short of their intended target, killing 12 civilians during [[Operation Moshtarak]]. ISAF suspended the use of the HIMARS until a full review of the incident was completed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISAF Weapon Fails to Hit Intended Target, 12 Civilians Killed |url=http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-weapon-fails-to-hit-intended-target-12-civilians-killed.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027180353/http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-weapon-fails-to-hit-intended-target-12-civilians-killed.html |archive-date=27 October 2014 |website=isaf.nato.int}}</ref> A British officer later said that the rockets were on target, that the target was in use by the [[Taliban]], and that use of the system had been reinstated.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 February 2010 |title=Operation Moshtarak: missiles that killed civilians 'hit correct target' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7254661/Operation-Moshtarak-missiles-that-killed-civilians-hit-correct-target.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719173745/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7254661/Operation-Moshtarak-missiles-that-killed-civilians-hit-correct-target.html |archive-date=19 July 2023 |access-date=7 July 2010 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> Reports indicated that the civilian deaths were due to the Taliban's use of [[human shield]]s. The presence of civilians at that location had not been known to the ISAF forces.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 February 2010 |title=Artillery: It Wasn't Me |url=http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20100218.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924203406/http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20100218.aspx |archive-date=24 September 2023 |access-date=7 July 2010 |work=Strategy page}}</ref> A report in the ''[[New York Times]]'' in October 2010 credited the HIMARS with aiding the [[NATO]] offensive in [[Kandahar]] by targeting Taliban commanders' hideouts, forcing many to flee to Pakistan, at least temporarily.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gall |first=Carlotta |date=20 October 2010 |title=Coalition Routs Taliban in Southern Afghanistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/world/asia/21kandahar.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130205124/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/world/asia/21kandahar.html |archive-date=30 November 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

In November 2015, the U.S. Army revealed that it had deployed the HIMARS to Iraq, firing at least 400 rockets at [[Islamic State]] (ISIL) targets since the beginning of that summer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=25 November 2015 |title=The U.S. Army Hurls Hundreds of Rockets at Islamic State |url=http://warisboring.com/articles/the-u-s-army-hurls-hundreds-of-rockets-at-islamic-state/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720130624/https://warisboring.com/the-u-s-army-hurls-hundreds-of-rockets-at-islamic-state/ |archive-date=20 July 2023 |access-date=28 November 2015 |website=War is boring}}</ref> HIMARS detachments were sent to [[Al Asad Airbase]] and [[Al-Taqaddum Air Base]] in [[Al Anbar Governorate]]. In March 2016, a U.S. Army HIMARS fired rockets into Syria for the first time in support of Syrian rebels fighting ISIL, from launchers based in neighboring Jordan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tilghman |first=Andrew |date=11 March 2016 |title=In a first, U.S. forces in Jordan have attacked ISIS in Syria |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/03/11/in-a-first-u-s-forces-in-jordan-have-attacked-isis-in-syria/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719212227/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/03/11/in-a-first-u-s-forces-in-jordan-have-attacked-isis-in-syria/ |archive-date=19 July 2023 |website=Military Times}}</ref>

In January 2016, Lockheed announced that the HIMARS had reached 1 million operational hours with U.S. forces, achieving a 99 percent operational readiness rate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2016 |title=HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System achieves one million operational hours milestone |url=https://armyrecognition.com/january_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/himars_high_mobility_artillery_rocket_system_achieves_one_million_operational_hours_milestone_11401162.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925204054/https://armyrecognition.com/january_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/himars_high_mobility_artillery_rocket_system_achieves_one_million_operational_hours_milestone_11401162.html |archive-date=25 September 2023 |website=Army Recognition}}</ref>

In April 2016, it was announced that the U.S. would be deploying the HIMARS in Turkey near the border with Syria as part of the battle with ISIL.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pamuk |first1=Humeyra |date=26 April 2016 |title=Turkish minister says U.S. to deploy rocket launchers near Syrian border |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-usa-idUKKCN0XN11Q/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503192535/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-usa-idUKKCN0XN11Q |archive-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> In early September, international media and the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] reported a newly deployed HIMARS had engaged ISIL targets in Syria near the Turkish border.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 September 2016 |title=US forces hit Isis targets in Syria with mobile rocket system, official says |language=en-GB |newspaper=The Guardian |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/03/isis-us-military-syria-turkey-border |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613160435/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/03/isis-us-military-syria-turkey-border |archive-date=13 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://twitter.com/usembassyturkey/status/772036923552632833 |title=US Embassy Turkey |publisher = Twitter|access-date= 4 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/772067652206419968?ref_src=twsrc%255Etfw |first =Brett |last = McGurk |title = Twitter|access-date=4 September 2016}}</ref>

In October 2016, HIMARS were stationed at [[Qayyarah Airfield West]], some {{convert|65|km}} south of Mosul, taking part in the [[Battle of Mosul (2016)|Battle of Mosul]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2016 |title=CNN visits Qayyara airbase at frontlines of war against ISIS |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/10/25/qayyara-airbase-iraq-mosul-dnt-damon.cnn |website=CNN}}</ref>

In June 2017, a HIMARS was deployed at [[Al-Tanf (U.S. military base)|Al-Tanf]], Syria, to support U.S.-backed rebels in the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=US deploys HIMARS artillery near al-Tanf, previously used to strike ISIS in Syria from Turkey and Jordan |url=https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2017/14-june-us-deploys-himars-artillery-near-altanf-previously |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240605122219/https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2017/14-june-us-deploys-himars-artillery-near-altanf-previously |archive-date=5 June 2024 |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=Map of Syrian Civil War |publisher=Live UA Map}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 June 2017 |title=US rocket artillery deployed to southern Syria for first time |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-long-range-missile-system-deploy-southern-syria-first-time-9348201 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720092342/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-rocket-artillery-deployed-southern-syria-first-time |archive-date=20 July 2023 |website=Middle East Eye}}</ref>

On 24 May 2018, a HIMARS strike killed 50 Taliban fighters and leaders in [[Musa Qala]], Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Starr |first1=Barbara |last2=Browne |first2=Ryan |date=30 May 2018 |title=US military says it killed dozens of Taliban leaders in Afghanistan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/us-killed-taliban-leaders-afghanistan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205173108/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/us-killed-taliban-leaders-afghanistan/ |archive-date=5 December 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref> Three rockets struck the building within a 14-second timespan.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 May 2018 |title=HIMARS Strike on High-Level Taliban Command and Control |url=https://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/air-strikes/himars-strike-high-level-taliban-command-control/5791439370001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720005922/https://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/air-strikes/himars-strike-high-level-taliban-command-control/5791439370001 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |work=Military.com}}</ref>

In September 2018, US support forces coordinated with [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] fighting to defeat ISIS in east Syria in the [[Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)|Deir ez-Zor campaign]], sometimes striking ISIS positions with GMLRS rockets 30 times per day.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://sdf-press.com/en/2018/10/the-outcome-of-engagements-in-the-battle-to-defeat-terrorism/ |title=The outcome of engagements in the battle to defeat terrorism|publisher=Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)|date=9 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url= http://sdf-press.com/en/2018/10/the-outcome-of-engagements-in-the-battle-to-defeat-terrorism-2/ |title=The outcome of engagements in the battle to defeat terrorism|publisher=Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)|date=12 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url= http://sdf-press.com/en/2018/10/outcome-of-engagements-in-the-battle-to-defeat-terrorism/ |title=The outcome of Engagements in the battle to defeat terrorism|publisher=Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)|date=16 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url= http://sdf-press.com/en/2018/10/outcome-of-engagements-in-the-battle-to-defeat-terrorism-2/ |title=Outcome of engagements in the battle to defeat terrorism|publisher=Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)|date=23 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://twitter.com/NotWoofers/status/1052650087111905280 |title= The SDF has regularly been reporting @coalition artillery and airstrikes throughout the offensive to take the Hajin pocket. But they've been noting M142 launches which I personally find interesting. These MLRS systems fire a rocket just over twice the side of a grad rocket|last=Woofers|date=17 October 2018}}</ref> The HIMARS used in this support operation were located in the Omar oilfields, some {{cvt|25|km}} north of the ISIS-controlled targets.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://twitter.com/StrategicNews1/status/1041289970223378432 |title=Photo of a #US M142 HIMARS system located in the Omar Oil Field Green Village, which supports #SDF forces in the offensive on #Baghuz. #Syriapic.twitter.com/19FwGdNJPg |work =Strategic News|date=16 September 2018}}</ref>