The US military will increase operations in Somalia with new authorization allowing it to conduct offensive airstrikes, the Pentagon announced. The White House on Thursday approved a Pentagon proposal to “provide additional precision fires” in support of African Union troops in Somalia, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said in a statement. The authorization designates southern Somalia as an “active area of hostilities” for 180 days, allowing increased authority to conduct airstrikes. This authority was used in US military operations targeting ISIS in Libya last year, and also applies to other combat zones such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. US Africa Command chief Gen. Thomas Waldhauser said during a March 24 briefing that he sought more authority to be able to more quickly hit targets. “That’s obviously something that we advocate for and if we were given that opportunity, given out those permissions and authorities, (it) will be very helpful to us.”
Air Force Asking for $1.5B to Fund E-7 in 2027
May 20, 2026
The Air Force’s planned budget amendment to restore funding for the E-7A Wedgetail in fiscal 2027 will be about $1.5 billion, Air Force Sec. Troy Meink told lawmakers May 20. The Air Force also plans to keep funding the E-7 in 2028 and beyond, Meink told the House Armed Services…