Friday, September 9
WAR ON TERROR, AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, 09-05-2005
| IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 37 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Coalition aircraft also supported Iraqi and Coalition ground forces operations to create a secure environment for ongoing Transitional National Assembly meetings. Sorties included a U.S. Air Force Predator that performed an air strike in the vicinity of Al Qaim. The Predator expended a Hellfire missile with good effects against an improvised explosive device staging site used by anti-Iraqi forces. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Kirkuk. The F-16s successfully expended two GBU-38s and two GBU-12s against enemy firing positions. Other F-16s expended one GBU-38 against an anti-Iraqi forces location in the vicinity of Al Karabilah with good effects. Additional sorties included U.S. Air Force F-16s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Al Habbaniyah, Shab Al Hiri, Tall Afar, and Tikrit. Eight U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. AFGHANISTAN:, Coalition aircraft flew 24 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition and Afghan troops, the parliamentary and provincial election process, presence route patrol to include border security, and reconstruction activities. U.S. Air Force A-10s, a B-52, and a Predator and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close air support to Coalition ground forces in contact with anti-Coalition militia in the vicinity of Oruzgan. The A-10s expended 580 30 mm cannon rounds and two rockets with successful effects. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s, a B-52, and a Predator and Royal Air Force GR-7s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Kowst, Qalat, and Shkin. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. ALL THEATRES: U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. Nearly 180 airlift sorties were flown, moving about 365 short tons of cargo and nearly 3,740 passengers. This included approximately 8,000 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in Southeastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom and Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 4, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Singapore Air Force, and French Air Force tankers flew 32 sorties and offloaded more than 1.7 million pounds of fuel. |
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