The Air National Guard’s 1st Air Force also now is Air Force North, or AFNORTH, in keeping with the Air Force plan to re-vamp numbered Air Forces into warfighting headquarters. The counterpart AFSOUTH, the alternate moniker for 12th Air Force, took its new name earlier this month. Both units are considered provisional until they reach full operational capability.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…