U.S. Navy Seaman Brandi Rogers signals the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) during a replenishment at sea from the deck of the guided missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) during a replenishment at sea while participating in Operation Inherent Resolve in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility Oct. 19, 2014 . President Barack Obama authorized humanitarian aid deliveries to Iraq as well as targeted airstrikes to protect U.S. personnel from extremists known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. U.S. Central Command directed the operations.