US Airpower Summary; Dec. 25, 2008: Strike Eagles Show Force

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, refuels Dec. 12 during a combat mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 25, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft conducted shows of force over a village where an anti-Afghan forces vehicle was trying to hide in the vicinity of Qarah Bagh. The missions were confirmed a success by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force to deter anti-Afghan activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition foot patrol following an improvised explosive device emplacement team in the vicinity of Orgun E and Mata Khan. The JTACs declared the missions were successful.

In the vicinity of Konduz and near Ghazni, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles performed multi flight shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting counter-IED operations. The missions were reported a success by the JTACs.

An F-15E conducted a show of force to deter anti-Afghan activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition foot patrol in the in the vicinity of Bagram. The JTAC declared the mission was successful.

In total, 44 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Sixteen Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 34 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-two Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, a coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 130 airlift sorties were flown, more than 500 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 2,000 passengers were transported.

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

On Dec. 23, Air Force and coalition aerial refueling crews flew 42 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.6 million pounds of fuel to 211 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

Tags: DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., al Qaeda, al Qaida, GWOT, terrorism, Taliban, Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, Dispatches from the Front
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension