Several key air
strikes by coalition aircraft have killed key terrorists and destroyed insurgent strongholds and vehicles armed with anti-aircraft artillery, according to Multinational Force Iraq news releases. One such strike, which took place March 2 west of Taji, targeted an insurgent network responsible for attacks on coalition aircraft. Another air strike in Arab Jabour on March 3 led to the rescue of four Iraqi citizens and the death of seven terrorists hiding inside a structure with an AAA and rocket propelled grenades. In Mosul on March 5, air strikes, probably conducted by USAF F-16s according to a release from US Central Command Air Force, destroyed a building housing materials used in roadside bombs.
U.S. Air Forces Central has awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $270 million to a California-based company to provide an ultra-long range, solar-powered drone capable of 75 hours of flight.