A B-1B bomber dropped a 2,000-pound joint direct attack munition on enemy combatants in Maimana, Afghanistan, April 28, Air Forces Central said in an April 29 release. Coalition aircraft carried out a total of 26 close air support missions in Afghanistan on that day, including F-15Es taking out enemy positions in Nangalam with 2,000-pound JDAMs, and British Royal Air Force GR9 Harriers dropping enhanced paveway II bombs on enemy combatants in a building near Garmsir. In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 50 CAS missions, AFCENT said.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
