US Air Force,
SOUTHWEST ASIA: Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan in the following operations April 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided a show of force, releasing multiple flares, for coalition forces receiving small-arms fire near Asmar.
Another B-1B conducted a show of force for an Afghan National Army unit near Asadabad. An on-scene joint terminal attack controller reported them as successful.
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided a show of force, releasing multiple flares, in support of coalition forces receiving mortar and heavy machine gun fire near Asadabad. A JTAC confirmed the show of force was successful.
Near Sangin, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided a show of force for a coalition forces' vehicle disabled by a mine. No further attacks were reported and the aircrew searched for suspicious activity in the area.
U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets dropped guided bomb unit -38s on a building used by insurgents near Garmsir. A JTAC confirmed the weapons hit the desired target. The aircrews then searched for suspicious activity along roads and among buildings in the area.
In total, 50 close air support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
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A Royal Air Force C-17 takes off to support operations in Iraq. RAF and U.S. Air Force C-17s provide strategic and intra-theater heavy airlift support to coalition forces as part of a multi-nation team. The C-17 is a four-engine turbofan aircraft capable of carrying large payloads over intercontinental ranges without refueling. It is designed to allow delivery of oversized combat cargo and equipment directly into austere airfields. (U. S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.)
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Nine Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, four Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.
In Iraq, Air Force A-10s fired cannon rounds at a truck carrying mortars that was hidden in some brush near Julaybah. A JTAC reported that the truck was destroyed and observed several large secondary explosions.
Other A-10s dropped a GBU-12 and fired cannon rounds at insurgents engaging coalition forces with small-arms fire in a field near Mahmudiyah. A JTAC observed good hits on the targets.
Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided reconnaissance of multiple routes, a palm grove and a group of six vehicles suspected of carrying explosives near Baqubah.
Other F-16s provided overwatch of a coalition raid to look for insurgents on rooftops, sniper positions and other suspicious activity near Baqubah.
Also near Baqubah, other F-16s searched for IEDs along roadways. The pilots reported three hot spots for further investigation.
Near Ballad, F-16s followed two insurgents in a truck who were suspected of recently planting an IED. The pilots passed coordinates to two U.S. Army Apache helicopters that destroyed the vehicle.
Other F-16s provided a show of force, releasing multiple flares, for coalition forces receiving small-arms fire near Baghdad. A JTAC confirmed it was successful and no further attacks were reported.
Near Basrah, a Navy F/A-18 dropped a GBU-12 on a building from where mortars had been fired at coalition forces. The bomb destroyed the target and secondary explosions were seen.
Other F/A-18s provided shows of force, expending multiple flares, for a coalition vehicle that struck two IEDs near An Nasiriyah. The show of force, conducted to deter IED triggermen from further attacks, was successful as no further attacks were reported.
Near Basrah, F/A-18s provided a show of force to deter enemy sniper fire on a disabled coalition vehicle near Basrah. A JTAC reported the show of force was successful. The aircrew then conducted reconnaissance ahead and around a coalition convoy until it reached its destination. No attacks were reported on the convoy with the presence of the F/A-18s.
RAF GR-4 Tornados searched for insurgent reinforcements in a coalition operation area near Baghdad. The aircrews also provided overwatch for a nearby vehicle-borne IED incident by searching for insurgents on rooftops and looking for other suspicious activity.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 64 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions supported coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, watched over reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Fifteen Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Additionally, five Air Force, Navy and RAF fighter aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.
Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. More than 170 airlift sorties were flown; nearly 670 tons of cargo were delivered, and approximately 2,895 passengers were transported. This included about 13,800 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Iraq, Japan and South Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On April 22, Air Force, French and RAF tankers flew 50 sorties and off-loaded more than 3 million pounds of fuel.
