US, Coalition Aircraft Set New Record in ISIS Fight

April 18, 2017 | By Brian W. Everstine

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

US and coalition aircraft in March had a record month in the fight against ISIS, dropping 3,878 bombs in Iraq and Syria. The number—the highest since Operation Inherent Resolve kicked off in 2014—is up from 3,440 the month before. US and coalition aircraft so far in 2017 have flown 4,741 close air support sorties, according to statistics provided by Air Forces Central Command. Tankers this year have flown 2,815 refueling flights, offloading 185 million pounds of fuel. The uptick in activity comes as Iraqi Security Forces push further into ISIS-held Western Mosul, and US-backed rebels in Syria attempt to close in on the ISIS capital city of Raqqa. In Afghanistan, US aircraft released 203 weapons, the highest since October 2016.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

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