Hurricane Katrina strikes the US Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and surrounding area. USAF and other services begin massive relief operations, including aeromedical evacuation, command and control, and airlifting supplies and rescue forces.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
