U.S. Central Command Air Forces

Courtesy Story

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations, Feb. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer destroyed an anti-Afghan bunker near Now Zad using a guided bomb unit-31. Personnel in the bunker had been firing on coalition troops.

In the vicinity of Shurakian, many coalition aircraft provided air support for an ambushed coalition convoy after one vehicle was disabled by an improvised explosive device. Enemy forces took cover and pulled back from the immediate area when the aircraft arrived. An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II destroyed an additional improvised explosive device using a GBU-38 as the convoy prepared to depart.

An A-10 intervened after anti-Afghan forces in fortified positions near Nangalam engaged a coalition convoy with rocket propelled grenade and assault weapons fire. The A-10 used a GBU-38 and 30mm cannon strafes to destroy the enemy positions.

While providing overwatch near Lashkar Gah, a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet used GBU-12 to target an enemy indirect fire position launching attacks on Coalition units. The strike successfully ended the attacks.

During a ground firefight on in the Morghab area, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle bombed an anti-Afghan forces fighting position using a GBU-12. After the initial strike, nearby enemy personnel tried to flee the area on motorcycles, but paused briefly to abandon their weapons in a nearby settlement. With other coalition aircraft helping to maintain positive identification of the enemy personnel, the Strike Eagle pursued, hitting the motorcycles with another GBU-12 and a cannon strafe once the risk to civilians had passed.

Near Moqor, an A-10 flew a show of force and expended flares after a coalition convoy started taking enemy small arms fire from a civilian settlement. The enemy's fire was suppressed long enough for the convoy to withdraw and complete the mission.

Navy F/A-18 Hornets, Super Hornets and Air Force F-15Es executed shows of force to deter enemy activities in areas near Lashkar Gah, Delaram, Ghazni, and Kabul. These shows of force provided additional security and protection for Coalition operations while preventing risk to civilians.

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.

In total, 80 close air support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Five Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, four Navy and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcons responded to a report of insurgents planting an improvised explosive device under a road crossing a Baghdad canal. The aircraft targeted the enemy group using GBU-38s as the insurgents unsuccessfully attempted to escape.

Coalition aircraft flew 30 close air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-seven Air Force and Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq.

U.S. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 110 airlift sorties were flown; more than 600 tons of cargo was delivered; and about 4,350 passengers were transported. This included approximately 30,000 pounds of troop re-supply that was air-dropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Feb. 21, U.S. Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 46 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.0 million pounds of fuel to 204 receiving aircraft.

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