The Air Force Weather Agency has reactivated the 1st Weather Group at Offutt AFB, Neb., to oversee operational weather squadrons at four stateside Air Force bases—Barksdale AFB, La., Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Scott AFB, Ill., and Shaw AFB, S.C. The agency now comprises some 1,400 airmen operating around the world. Officials say the new structure aligns weather operations with the Air Force’s new warfighting headquarters construct.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.

