Sept. 10 airpower summary: F-15Es strike enemy

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles strafed an enemy moving from a compound to a tree line with canon rounds near Kandahar. The joint terminal attack controller confirmed the rounds hit their targets.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs destroyed a disabled coalition Humvee with guided bomb unit-12s near Oruzgan. The A-10s also hit enemy personnel with cannon rounds and rockets. Additionally, the A-10s performed a show of force over the convoy and continued to provide overwatch. The enemy broke contact with the convoy. Another group of A-10s provided shows of force in the area.

In Gardez, an A-10 provided a show of force with flares to stop enemies from attacking coalition forces. The show of force was reported as successful.

F-15Es attacked an enemy firing position in a tree line with a GBU-12 near Gereshk.

Royal Air Force GR-9 Harriers provided shows of force to demonstrate that air support was present for a meeting between the populace and a coalition commander in Ghanj Abad, and to deter insurgents from attacking a convoy near Gereshk. The shows of force were reported as successful.

A French air force Mirage 2000 performed a show of force with flares over coalition forces near Qal-E-Now.

In total, 41 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Nine Air Force and RAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, two RAF aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon destroyed an enemy's storage building with a GBU-38 in Al Tarmiyah. The building was discovered during a coalition mission that the pilots were watching over.

A RAF GR-4 Tornado performed a show of force with flares in Bagdad after a rocket-propelled-grenade attack. The show of force was reported as successful.

F-16s and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided continuous overwatch while in the area over Salman Pak.

A-10s, F-16s and F/A-18s monitored suspicious activity around Al Tarmiyah and Al Hawijah.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 67 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions supported coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided over watch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Fourteen Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Additionally, six Navy and RAF aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance. 

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 145 airlift sorties were flown, 360 tons of cargo were delivered, and approximately 3,600 passengers were transported. This included approximately 61,080 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Iraq, Japan and Korea flew in support of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Sept. 9, Air Force, French air force and RAF tankers flew 55 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3 million pounds of fuel to 260 receiving aircraft.