Afghan National Army and coalition forces have been punishing anti-coalition militia in the country’s Kunar province over the last month, with Air Force assets providing critical close air support. Starting on April 11, Operation Mountain Lion has seen approximately 2,500 Afghan troops and US soldiers and marines push into the Korengal Valley to root out caves and staging locations for attacks on reconstruction projects. Last week, USAF F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., successfully struck two caves in the vicinity of Asadabad with JDAMs. Enemy forces used the caves to store weapons and launch attacks against coalition forces. US Central Command officials said that the aircrew observed secondary explosions after the strike, indicating the presence of munitions.
Numbers Game Squeezes USAF Fighter Force
Dec. 15, 2025
Congress set the legal floor for how many primary mission aircraft the Air Force had to have in its fighter force in 2018, requiring at least 1,145 fighters through Oct. 1, 2026. In each of the past past two legislative cycles, lawmakers agreed to reduce the number. But when the House passed…
