Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the president of Kyrgyzstan, has been negotiating with the Pentagon over the past and future use of Manas Air Base. The situation appears to be escalating. Several news reports state Bakiyev wants a significant raise for the base’s rent—“tens of times more” according to Agence France-Presse and “100-fold” per The Financial Times. This is the facility to which many USAF forces moved when Uzbekistan kicked the US military out of K-2.
F-15E Aviator Missing in Iran Rescued by US Forces
April 5, 2026
The second crew member of the F-15E shot down April 3 has been rescued from Iran. U.S. forces recovered the aviator alive and all American forces involved in the operation are believed to be safe, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.