An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on Thursday in central Iraq at approximately 7:50 a.m. Baghdad time, Air Forces Central said in a release. The crash was not due to hostile fire, and there were no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property at the crash site, AFCENT said. A board is being convened to investigate the incident. As of June 30, the Air Force had lost 48 Predators supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
