Among the 48 close air support missions flown by coalition aircraft on June 16 in Afghanistan were sorties by A-10s against enemy combatants in Bagram, Air Forces Central said in a June 17 statement. These Warthogs fired cannon rounds and attacked with 500-pound laser-guided bombs, successfully taking out the targets, AFCENT said. B-1B bombers were also active on that day, striking enemy positions near Bari Kowt with 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions and a 500-pound JDAM. In Iraq, there were 30 CAS missions flown June 16.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…