Airmen continue to add flying hours to the heavily tasked C-130 tactical airlift fleet operating in Iraq, not to mention side trips to Africa, to deliver supplies and passengers throughout the theater. Remember, the Air Force picked up this mission to help keep convoys off the roads. According to a recent Air Force release, the in-theater C-130 Hercules operations, over the course of just one week, airlift enough to eliminate road trips for more than 22 buses and 42 trucks.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
