A statement from Multinational Force Iraq maintains that it has confirmed that the air strike on Oct. 5 requested to suppress an attack by a large number of individuals resulted “in 25 terrorists killed” despite news reports that those killed were “innocent civilians.” The statement went on: “In this instance, we have confirmed that the 25 criminals who were killed were responsible for the attack on our forces and in fact were members of an extremist group operating in the Baqubah region.”
In a rare letter to the entire force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S. operation against Iran.