The US-led coalition is providing assistance to Turkey in its attempt to recover two soldiers gone missing in an advance the US had already pulled support from, the coalition said Wednesday. Two Turkish soldiers went missing near al Bab, Syria, as they were engaged in an offensive against ISIS, said British Army Maj. Gen. Rupert Jones, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. US Special Operations Forces were embedded in this Turkish advance, but pulled out earlier this month. Jones would not provide detail of the coalition’s support, whether it includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets or even possible support by US Air Force personnel recovery aircraft and airmen based in Turkey. The personnel recovery operation is “inherently sensitive” and Turkey is an important NATO partner, so it is important for the coalition to assist, Jones said.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
