Coalition aircraft flew several close air support missions in Iraq on Dec. 27. USAF F-16s fired three precision-guided munitions against anti-Iraqi forces positions and vehicles in the vicinity of Hawijah. USAF F-15s and F16s provided CAS to coalition troops engaged with anti-Iraqi forces near Balad. The F-15s fired one PGM, striking an enemy mortar position, while the F-16s struck an enemy building with a PGM.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.