Air Force F-15Es fired cannon-rounds and dropped 500-pound joint direct attack munitions onto enemy combatants May 28 in Bagram, Afghanistan, Air Forces Central announced May 29. Also in Afghanistan on that day, a B-1B bomber struck enemy fighting positions with 500-pound and 2,000-pound JDAMs in Farah. Joint terminal attack controllers reported that these missions were successful, AFCENT said. In total, coalition aircraft flew 47 close-air-support missions in Afghanistan and 70 CAS missions in Iraq on May 28.
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.
