A-10s, F-15Es, and a B-1B bomber struck enemy combatants engaging friendly forces with 500-pound laser-guided bombs and 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions May 9 in Asadabad, Afghanistan, Air Forces Central announced May 10. A joint terminal attack controller confirmed the success of the missions. In Bari Kowt, a B-1B took out enemy forces with a 2,000-pound JDAM and 500-pound JDAMs. In Iraq on May 9, an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle fired a Hellfire missile and Navy F/A-18 Hornets dropped 500-pound JDAMs to destroy rocket rails, mortar positions, and enemy combatants in Baghdad, AFCENT 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.
