The coalition against ISIS recently hit a cash collection point in Mosul, Iraq, with GBU-31s and GBU-39s, the ninth such site struck so far, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve said on Jan. 20. While officials are not sure exactly how much money was destroyed, Army Col. Steve Warren estimated it is “in the tens of millions” of dollars. “We do know that we have impacted their ability to pay their fighters in the immediate term,” he said. “These cash strikes, combined with our other strikes against their industrial base, we believe are having a cumulative effect.” The US and coalition airstrikes have been targeting oil operations ISIS is using to fund its activities. Warren said that since ISIS, also known as Daesh, only uses cash, officials hope that striking cash collection and distribution points will be a further blow to the organization’s funding. Still, he said, “As we strike the Daesh cash … we are going to see them react to the strikes.”
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…