US Central Command Air Forces officials report that coalition airpower flew almost 1,200 combat and support sorties for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan from Dec. 29, 2005-Jan. 1, 2006. In combat action in Iraq over the last three days of 2005 and first day of the new year, USAF F-16s and US Navy F/A-18s provided close air support for coalition forces near Al Hawjah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Miqdadiyah, Ar Ramadi, Baghdad, Balad, and Bayji. The F-16s fired six precision-guided munitions, striking an enemy bunker and mortar firing locations and an enemy vehicle. On Jan. 1, USAF F-15s flew a pre-planned air strike near Ar Rutbah, hitting an enemy weapons cache with four PGMs. In Afghanistan over the four-day period, USAF A-10 and B-52 aircraft flew CAS for coalition troops under fire from enemy forces near Gereshk.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
