Coalition air forces conducted an air strike against a terrorist safe house in the vicinity of Husaybah, Iraq, shortly after 1 a.m. on Sept. 8—targeting Abu Mohammed, a known bomb-maker and cell leader. Mohammed had been linked to other al Qaeda terrorists and foreign fighters in Husaybah and the western Euphrates River Valley. On Sept. 7, USAF F-16s performed a strike in the vicinity of Al Qaim, Iraq—expending two GBU-38s against anti-Iraqi forces.
Defense experts say the drone threat represents only part of a larger, looming problem: U.S. air bases in the Pacific are increasingly vulnerable to air attacks.