Coalition officials in Afghanistan report that Afghan and coalition ground forces called for close air support during a six-hour engagement prompted by a Taliban ambush in the town of Musa Qala in the Helmand province. Afghan and coalition forces killed nearly 80 Taliban, with no reports of Afghan, coalition, or civilian casualties. Stars and Stripes reports that US Air Force aircraft flew the CAS sorties, making four precision weapons strikes.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
