The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron has been delivering about one million pounds of cargo a day to Iraq and Afghanistan. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that the aircrews, nearing the end of their four-month rotation, have flown 3,578 sorties, hauling 120.8 million pounds of cargo and 111,549 passengers. In addition to airlift and airdrop of personnel and supplies, the C-17s have made possible 26 aeromedical evacuations.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.