F-22s from the 7th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., arrived in late May at Kadena AB, Japan, for a four-month deployment. This tour, which is part of a normal rotation of US combat forces in the Pacific region, marks the first overseas deployment for Holloman’s new Raptor force. F-22s were also scheduled to deploy last week from Langley AFB, Va., to Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of this rotation. (Kadena photo caption by SrA. Amanda Grabiec)
The U.S. military conducted a punishing series of airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Dec. 8 following the sudden demise of the ruling Assad regime. U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State leaders, fighters, and…