|
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2006 – U.S. and coalition aircrews flew combat and support missions Jan. 3 in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward officials in Southwest Asia reported today.
Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom, supporting coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities, officials said. Fourteen Air Force and Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, British Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 20 close-air-support missions, including A-10, B-52, Predator and GR-7 missions near Deh Rawood, and six U.S. Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Also, Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities, and the conduct of presence route patrols, officials said. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. About 160 airlift sorties carried about 350 tons of cargo and nearly 2,600 passengers, officials said. Coalition C-130 crews from Canada and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Jan. 2, U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 34 sorties and off-loaded nearly 2.3 million pounds of fuel, officials said. (Compiled from U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)
|
