Iraqi special forces have entered the eastern city limits of Mosul, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said Wednesday. The return of government troops to the city for the first time in two years “is a very important milestone,” Davis said, “but we know there’s much more work to be done.” Iraqi forces—including Iraqi Security Forces troops approaching from the south and Kurdish Peshmerga forces approaching from the north—have spent the past day improving defensive works and conducting back clearances of recently seized areas surrounding the city. The Iraqi “forces continue to maintain the momentum as they consolidate gains and move forward on all of their axes,” Davis said. Since the beginning of the Mosul campaign on Oct. 17, coalition forces have delivered over 3,000 munitions. (See also: Empty Racks, which will appear in the January issue of Air Force Magazine.)
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”