US aircraft recently conducted multiple airstrikes targeting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, the first new operations under expanded authority as part of Operation Resolute Support. Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said “the first use of these authorities involved airstrikes” in the southern portion of the country, but he would not expand on specifically where or what was targeted at the request of commanders in theater. The White House earlier this month expanded the authority of the top US commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Nicholson, to determine when to target the Taliban, either by air or with American forces accompanying conventional Afghan troops, in an effort to ebb gains by the group inside the country.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.