Iraqi F-16s and attack helicopters have joined the fight for Fallujah, flying both deliberate strikes and close air support sorties to assist ground forces as they advance on the city, Army Col. Christopher Garver, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said during a Wednesday briefing. Although Iraq does not coordinate its flights with the coalition’s air tasking orders, it has made multiple strikes and flown support for advancing brigades. The coalition also has seen the aircraft fly strikes in support of Mosul and Baiji earlier this year, Garver said. The country has six F-16s in its air force, which first arrived in July 2015, and its pilots are trained with the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson. (See also: Iraqi Airstrikes on ISIS.)
B-52 Bombers Make Rare Landing At Civilian Airport
April 18, 2024
Two B-52s assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB landed at Chennault International Airport, a public airport in Lake Charles, La. on April 12 as part of the wing's Bayou Vigilance Exercise.