A military pilot readies for flight -- serving U.S. Central Command operations in Iraq.<br/> <br />.... Part of a mission aimed at halting Islamic State fighters from advancing further in their quest for territory.<br/> <br />According to the Pentagon's Lieutenant General William Mayville, the air strikes have slowed the militants down, but haven't stopped them.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM MAYVILLE, SENIOR PENTAGON OFFICIAL, SAYING:<br/> <br />"What I expect the ISIL to do is to look for other things to do to pick up and move out further. In no way do I want to suggest that we have effectively contained or that we are somehow braking the momentum of the threat posed by ISIL."<br/> <br />The Pentagon says targeted air strikes may continue and that personnel and munitions are ready for deployment.<br/> <br />Here, aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, bombs for possible use in future missions are being prepared.<br/> <br />But on the ground in northern Iraq, the milita
