The number of US and coalition bombs dropped in Afghanistan rose sharply to 460 in April, more than doubling the total from the previous month. It was the largest number of munitions dropped in a single month in Afghanistan since August of 2012, according to statistics provided by Air Forces Central Command. In Iraq and Syria, US and Coalition forces dropped 3,274 munitions in April, down about 600 from the record month of March. It was the lowest number of weapons released in Operation Inherent Resolve so far in 2017. Still, US and Coalition forces have dropped more bombs in each month this year than in any single month previously dating back to the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve in August of 2014.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
