On Aug. 27, USAF F-16s flew a pre-planned air strike in the vicinity of Baquaba, Iraq, expending two GBU-38s against an improvised explosive device staging site used by anti-Iraqi forces.
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.