SAN DIEGO (Feb. 25, 2015)- Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returns to homeport Naval Base San Diego following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations, Feb. 25, as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). Deployed since July 25, the Makin Island ARG, conducted a relocation of National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration researchers from Tropical Storm Iselle near Hawaii, conducted air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq, worked with British and Kuwaiti forces in Exercise Cougar Voyage 14, participated in Exercise Red Reef 15 with Saudi Arabian forces and performed Marine sustainment exercises in Kuwait and Djibouti. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rosalie Chang/ Released)