Feb. 6 airpower: Eagles shut down small-arms fire

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Feb. 6.

In Afghanistan Feb. 5, F-15 Eagles provided show-of-force and overhead coverage for a convoy of International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops near Ya Qubi who were receiving small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade attack from enemy forces. After the F-15s arrived, no additional enemy activity was reported.

Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support to ISAF troops receiving rocket propelled grenade and mortar fire from enemy forces near Qurya. One of the F/A-18s successfully expended a guided bomb unit -38 on an enemy forces structure and mortar positions, ending the engagement.

In total, 31 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, five Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

In Iraq , Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to troops receiving small arms fire from anti-Iraqi forces near Karbala. The F-16s successfully expended cannon rounds on enemy forces, ending the engagement.

Air Force F-16s also provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Tikrit and Basrah.

Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornados provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad, Tarmiya and Karbala .

In total, coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Additionally, 12 Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq . An Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with electro-optical and infrared sensors.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan , Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew approximately 130 airlift sorties, delivered more than 360 tons of cargo and transported more than 2,500 passengers. This included about 14,400 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and Japan flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On Feb. 4, Air Force, RAF and French tankers flew 32 sorties and off-loaded more than 1.9 million pounds of fuel.